A HOTELIER is currently braving the heat of East Africa as he attempts to run 400km to raise cash for charity.

Greg Harrand, who has the Hedley House Hotel in Bootham Terrace, is one of four runners spending seven days in Uganda on the Run For Humanity, which is being held in conjunction with the Red Cross.

Greg, who has raised £3,000 for the Red Cross so far through Hedley House, said the challenge is being sponsored by Ugandan hotels along the route so rather than camping out in the bush, the participants will have a bed for the night.

They will need it to cope with punishing days under the African sun – something for which training in York cannot really prepare you.

Greg said: “The main challenges will be big hills along the route and 400km of dusty tracks.”

Run For Humanity’s first Ugandan challenge was held last year, generating huge support from locals. Radio stations in Uganda carried news about the runners and local people joined in for stretches of the route.

During the run the local Red Cross volunteers provided first aid training sessions and awareness on road safety at the various trading centres.

That time the run was over 240km, which took six days.

The team worked in partnership with the country’s Red Cross to support vulnerable communities and make a difference to the lives of young people.