A SELF-confessed couch potato is about to embark upon a trek of a lifetime to raise cash for charity.

Diane Kirk, aged 47, who had cervical cancer in her late 20s, is trekking 100km across the Sahara desert to raise thousands of pounds for The Christie cancer unit in Manchester.

Her walk comes amid heightened awareness of cervical cancer following the case of former Big Brother contestant Jade Goody, who has been told she may only have months to live.

Married over the weekend to Jack Tweed, the reality television star was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, with the disease since having spread through her body.

Mrs Kirk, from Westhoughton, said: “I decided I wanted to do something that would really challenge me.

“I searched for tough challenges on the internet and found this trip to the Sahara. I thought it was perfect, it was definitely something I would have never have dreamed of, and I could raise money for charity at the same time.”

The book-keeper was treated at The Christie and she has had friends and family treated at the hospital.

She lost two close friends to cancer last year.

Mrs Kirk will set off on her journey on Saturday, and start walking on March 2 for seven days.

The mother-of-two will camp overnight in the desert and has been told to expect temperatures of 35 degrees celsius (95f) during the day, and minus five (23f) at night.

She will be walking with a group of 30 strangers, who she will meet on the flight. Mrs Kirk has been in training for the trip since she signed up last August.

She walks up to 10 miles every night when she gets home from work.

She said: “I’ve lost about half a stone in training. I really hope I keep it up when I get back and do not revert back to my old ways.”

Mrs Kirk said she is excited but nervous about the trip.

She added: “I am going to miss my home comforts, like toilets and hair straighteners. There will be a lot of highs and lows but I am doing it to raise as much money as possible for a great cause and I am sure that will keep me going.”

Mrs Kirk has already raised more than £2,000 from holding various fundraising events and has £800 pledged in sponsorship.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mrs Kirk should visit justgiving.com/ dianekirk.

lucy.ewing@theboltonnews.co.uk