Couple’s Sahara trek ‘the experience of a lifetime’

18 March 2011

When adventurous couple Mitch and Sarah Paris decided to sign up for Headway's Sahara trek they were understandably unsure what to expect from the daunting challenge. What transpired was the experience of a lifetime, which helped raise more than £6,000 for the charity.

Mitch and Sarah Paris trekked across the Sahara for Headway In 2009, Mitch and Sarah's 26-year-old son Zac developed a brain tumour. An operation to remove the tumour was successful
but Zac spent six months recuperating before returning to work in March last year. Tragically though, just two months later Zac suffered a stroke. While he has made a good recovery, his memory and speech have been affected.

"We know the impact a brain injury can have on a family," said Mitch. "As such, we wanted to do all we could to help Headway and the Sahara trek seemed a novel way to raise money."

The trek saw the couple walk 100km across the desert in just five days. But for Mitch and Sarah, it was the physical exertion that provided the stiffest challenge.

"Walking so far in five days across sand was hard, of course, but the trek was more mentally than physically challenging. We just kept walking and walking and you could never see the finish - it was just endless sand! Despite that, we loved every minute of it! Sleeping under the stars in the desert is an incredible experience and I would recommend it to anyone."