THEY waded through a sandstorm, unpredictable terrain in 44C heat and fought off swarms of flies, but no amount of difficulty could have deterred Hannah Soutar and Dani Moreton as they crossed the Sahara desert for Prospect Hospice.

The childhood friends embarked on the gruelling five-day Sahara Trek earlier this month in a bid to collect £4,000 for the charity which cared for their father and mother respectively through terminal illness.

And their efforts have paid off as they have nearly doubled their initial target, with £7,000 raised and donations pouring in.

“It’s really difficult to put into words our experience,” said Dani, 26, who lives in Swindon town centre.

“It was challenging. On the second day we walked about 20 km – it was 70km in total – and the temperature at one point was 44 degrees. We were in the middle of nowhere and there was no shade.

Hannah, 27, of Stratton, added: “It was really hard. You would go from walking on soft sand to walking on rocks and pebbles and then slushy mud sand. It was really bizarre.

“The best part was watching the sun go down sat on sand dunes, sleeping under the stars and watching the sun rise.”

The inseparable friends were brought even closer by their connection to Prospect and the parent they each lost to cancer.

Hannah’s father Trevor died aged 50 in March 2002 after a losing a fight with bowel cancer.

Dani lost her mother Marie to primary lymphoma of the brain in June last year. She was 58.

She and her family also forged a strong bond with Prospect staff through the care Marie received.

To make a donation visit www.

justgiving.com/whosthatcomingoverthedune. Alternatively text DHST50 with the amount you wish to donate to 70070.