THE 'toughest footrace on earth' is only eight weeks away – and one contestant from Times Territory still needs your help. Last year, the WHT reported how Anthony Riley is taking part in this year's Marathon des Sables to raise money for the Pancreatic Can

THE "toughest footrace on earth" is only eight weeks away - and one contestant from Times Territory still needs your help.

Last year, the WHT reported how Anthony Riley is taking part in this year's Marathon des Sables to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund (PCRF) and was appealing to the people of Welwyn Hatfield to sponsor him.

The Marathon de Sables is a six-day, 156-mile endurance race across the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco.

Contestants will endure temperatures of 120F and carry all their supplies on their back.

Anthony, of Bramble Road, Hatfield, will be running alongside his step-brother Nick Zembilis, whose father Peter died of pancreatic cancer 20 years ago.

They hope to raise at least �6,000 before they set off on their journey in March.

Several Times Territory businesses have already backed Anthony, including Hertfordshire Sports Village at the university's de Havilland Campus in Hatfield which gave the 40-year-old free use of its facilities.

Anthony said: "Hertfordshire Sports Village has been unbelievably supportive in both offering its facilities for my training and promoting the charity and the race."

To donate visit www.justgiving.co.uk/mdesrun4life