Gavin, a partner at the Thrums Veterinary Group, is putting his best foot forward in preparation for the 250 km race in the Moroccan Sahara desert - billed as "the toughest foot race in the world."

With a training schedule carried out in recent weeks in sub-zero temperatures, Gavin is spurred on by his fund-raising efforts which he hopes will boost the campaign by his local community association, ENKCA, to build a new community hub in Eassie.

ENKCA (the Eassie, Nevay and Kirkinch Community Association) exists to provide recreational and educational facilities and activities for the community. It also provides a focal point and links for the community through various mediums. Currently the main focus is on replacing the existing hall.

Gavin said: "I am running for ENKCA, which is raising money to build a new community hub.

"Our old hall is, unfortunately, past its best and we need to replace it. We need to raise around £500K and, to the credit of the fund-raising team, they have secured around £400K so far.

"I would like to help them go the extra mile to meet the required target by running/walking/crawling in the sands of the Sahara. It's the least I could do."

Punishing

And Gavin will certainly have to go that "extra" mile, for he is facing a punishing schedule during the April event which at best will see him cover 13 miles in one day, and at worst - 50 miles!

He continued: "Some say it's an excuse to get away from work; some say it's just a self catering beach holiday - all I know, it's The Marathon des Sables.

"The 2010 event is the 25th edition of the race and to commemorate this the organisers have decided to make it 250km long, which is the longest version ever. Just my luck!"

Held over one week, it's a self sufficient race which means the competitors carry everything they need.

Water is dispensed at various check points throughout the race but Gavin will need to carry all his food, sleeping bag/mat and safety gear, including an anti-venom pump!

"They stipulate you carry this. One of the prerequisites is that you carry emergency flares, a whistle and the anti-venom pump. I don't think anyone has ever had to use it. It's mostly for poisonous spiders or scorpions. It sounds worse than it is!

"My pack will weigh around 10kg on day one. Temperatures vary between 5C at night to 50C during the day.

"Training currently involves running up and down hills in the rain and dark with four layers of clothes on.

"If the drifts are too big then I am forced onto the roads around Balkeerie and Kirrie. I am doing 40-50 mile per week at the moment but this total will rise to 60-70 miles per week towards the end of February/ middle March.

"Desert training in west Angus over the past six weeks has been easier said than done. The lowest temperatures I've been out in has been minus 11."

Approximately 750 people start the race every year, ranging in age from 16-78.

The race takes place over seven days, the first day covering 20 miles building up to 22 and 25 with the fourth day a gruelling 50 miles, followed by a well deserved day of rest.

The sixth day is "Marathon day" with the final day seeing those who have survived the course covering 13 miles.

Gavin continued: "It's not just a stroll in the park!

"I heard about this about six or seven years ago and had entered the 2008 event but was injured during training, so this is second time lucky.

"I started my training about a year ago and had surgery on my injury at the beginning of March."

Gavin successfully completed the Loch Ness marathon at the beginning of October and is building up his distance week by week.

He added: "It is getting pretty close. It was all quite exciting and a good laugh but now it's getting closer it's quite daunting.

"There were so many causes I could have done the run for but the hall is an important thing for Eassie.

"They are very close to starting to build the hall. I hope to raise a couple of thousand pounds to help."

Gavin can be sponsored via the just giving site - www.justgiving.com/gavindurston or through sponsor forms at the Thrums Veterinary Group.