Care at Christmas: Daring friends team looking for supporters for upcoming Sahara Trek Acorns challenge

Aimee Guy, aged 41, from Wolverhampton, whose daughter Olivia currently receives care at the charity's Black Country hospice, is leading the team of intrepid explorers across 50km of dangerous desert to raise money for the vital care of seriously ill children. 

The team, who call themselves the 'Sahara Sisters', will take part in the epic eight-day adventure without fear - saying they are scared of nothing, except spiders. 

Exploration team leader, Aimee Guy, said: "My daughter Olivia receives care at Acorns. She has complex needs with a profound genetic disorder. 

"It has been very difficult for us as a family to get any time together, and it’s been very challenging. 

"To have Acorns able to offer us support as a family was life-changing. It has meant the world to us, not only in offering respite care but for its sibling sessions too."

Olivia, now aged four, has a condition called 1p36 Deletion Syndrome and also suffers from profound learning and physical difficulties. 

Aimee and her friends will join other adventurers for Acorns Sahara Trek 2025, which takes place between October 18 and October 25, to raise money for Acorns and its lifeline care for children and support for their families. 

Aimee continued: "I felt like I needed to give something in return to Acorns for all their care and support so I recruited a team of girls to take part in the Sahara Trek. We’re calling ourselves the Sahara Sisters.

"We want to raise money and awareness for Acorns and to celebrate the great work the charity does. More money raised means more children and families can be helped.

“The work Acorns does is amazing, the hospice is first class and the care they have given our daughter Olivia in particular has been incredible.

“I wanted to do something a bit different and the Sahara Trek really stood out. I’m really looking forward to it and we’ve been out buying bits of kit already.”

While it sounds like nothing scares the intrepid explorers, they said the biggest thing they are worried about is the desert spiders. 

Aimee said: "I’m not normally scared of anything, and I will be fine with snakes or scorpions.

"But I hate spiders. Spiders give me nightmares. I’ve heard in the desert they run toward you to get into the shade but I’m hoping our guides will be able to keep them away from us."

Acorns needs around £35,000 each day to provide its children's hospice care, with two-thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.

To sign up to take part in the Acorns Sahara Trek 2025, register before January 10 on the group's website. 

The Express & Star has launched it's Care at Christmas appeal in support of the trust. Donate to give the gift of Acorns vital care and support to ensure no family caring for a seriously ill child in the region is facing faces a difficult journey alone.

Donate to Acorns here: acorns.org.uk/Star-Appeal