A group of young Irish soldiers are to participate in a challenge involving six days and 150 miles of running through the Sahara desert in temperatures of up to 45 degrees in the shade.
Lieut Peter Ott from Banteer, Capt Tom Barry from Clonmel, Lieut Dave McCourt from Athlone, Lieut Ken Barry from Ennis and Lieut Seán Coffey from Kildare leave for Morocco on Monday, but start their gruelling race on Easter Sunday.
Lieut Ott told yesterday how he became captivated by the event when he saw a documentary on RTÉ charting the progress of Irish super-marathon legend, Richard O'Donovan.
Lieut Ott has been with the Army for nine years and is a map reading instructor, an experienced runner and hill walker.
Money raised from the event will go to charity.
Lieut Ott has opted for the Galway Association, an award-winning organisation catering for people with special needs in the Galway area.