Andrew Brown, formerly of Meole Estate in Shrewsbury, is limbering up for his final ‘ultra’ running event in aid of Severn Hospice.

The gruelling six-day Marathon des Sables in April is Andrew’s biggest challenge yet after tackling three extreme runs since September as part of his preparation for the desert.

Andrew, who now lives in Hampshire, has completed the 56-mile London to Brighton race, the 82-mile three-day Druid Challenge Ridgeway Multistage and the Pilgrim Challenge, which saw him run 62 miles in two days.

He said: “In recent times my family, who still live in Shropshire, have needed the help of the brilliant people at Severn Hospice on two separate occasions. It is because of this I am attempting to raise money for them so they are able to help others in the future as they have helped my family before.

“I am tackling four ultra marathons over a seven month period. I started with the London to Brighton race in September 2011 and will finish with the Marathon des Sables in April.

“I have been training for this challenge for a while. After a brief rest following London to Brighton I stepped up my training ready for the Druids Challenge. Each weekend I currently run a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon every Sunday in preparation for the big race.

“I’m really looking forward to the final event and hope to raise as much money as I can for such a fantastic cause.”

Mike Perry, community fundraising advisor for Severn Hospice, said: “Tackling one ultra marathon is an outstanding achievement in itself but to attempt four including the Marathon des Sables is a real challenge and something which we are truly grateful to Andrew for.

“We wish Andrew all the very best of luck for his desert adventure and would like to thank him and and his family for all they are doing for Severn Hospice, raising money and awareness about the work we do in Shropshire and Mid Wales.”

Andrew is being sponsored by Abbey Power, the online ebay shop of Shrewsbury-based business Abbey Hardware.

Lynette Payne, who owns Abbey Hardware with her husband Dave, said: “We are so pleased to be supporting Andrew’s run across the desert and it’s fantastic that we are helping a great local cause like Severn Hospice in the process.”

To find out more about Andrew’s challenge you can read his online blog at www.goodlittlerunner.blogspot.com and you can sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/goodlittlerunner.