Chris Boden, 27, from Chestnut Grove, will join a team of three colleagues from Allianz Insurance in the Namib Desert to help raise £100,000 for the Prince's Trust by taking part in the Insurance Leadership Group Namibia Desert Challenge, in April.

The challenge will include four days of competition by cycling, abseiling and running over 140km in temperatures in excess of 30 degrees celsius.

Chris, a sales co-ordinator, is looking forward to the challenge and said: "I wanted to raise funds for the Prince's Trust because I have had a lot of exposure to young people who were in trouble in a previous job.

"I also spent a short time without work and I know how hard it can be to keep your spirits up.

"Without a strong support network of friends and family I would have found the whole experience even harder to deal with.

"The charity provides the support network to those that are less fortunate than myself and I wanted to help."

The former police officer trains at the gym three times a week and cycles distances of 20 miles a day at weekends.

He is expecting to have run and cycled over 600 miles in order to prepare for the challenge.

Other fund-raising events are being held in the Leeds branch of Allianz to aid the individual total of £2,750 that Mr Boden must reach. So far he has amassed a total of £1,414.

These include an office football competition, cake sales and the branch manager will be doing a sponsored slim.

Donations can be made online at: www.justgiving.com/chrisboden