A FORMER Royal Navy medic is taking on the world’s toughest footrace through the Sahara Desert to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Barry ‘Baz’ Gorman, a former Royal Navy leading medical assistant from Okehampton, is taking part in the Marathon des Sables in April, trekking 160 miles across the desert in Morocco. Throughout the run, only water and medical support are supplied by the organisers, everything else Baz needs he will need to carry with him.

This is the third time he has applied to run in the race; he is running the world’s toughest ultra-marathon for the charity Walking with the Wounded.

He said: ‘My preparation started over two years ago and the day after I found out I’d been accepted, I had knee surgery!

‘I spent the majority of my time serving with the Royal Marine Commando Units both in the UK and overseas in both operational and peace times. Numerous injuries prevented me from my goal of being awarded the coveted green beret — hence why my charity is Walking with the Wounded, to assist injured service personnel into civilian life.’