SARAH OLNEY has found herself facing more than one challenge since she decided to take on a sponsored ride across the Egyptian desert later this year.

First, she needs to raise £2,000 to cover the costs of the six-day trek in October.

Because she will be riding smaller horses than she is used to at her home near Thornton Watlass, Bedale, North Yorkshire, she also has to lose some weight.

"I joined Weight Watchers and have already shed almost a stone, but I have another ten pounds to go," she said.

The expedition, timed to coincide with cooler desert temperatures, is raising money on behalf of the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH).

"The ILPH is trying to ban the live export of horses from the UK to the rest of Europe and I wanted to support that work,'' Ms Olney said.

The party of 40 taking on the 150km journey will be camping under the stars for four nights.

She has already raised £600 toward the costs of the journey, some of the money coming from a sponsored day-long silence.

Other events in the pipeline include a garden party for family and friends this Sunday and a silent auction on a date yet to be confirmed.