NINETEEN people have swapped Scotland for the Sahara to raise cash for the new Forth Valley Sensory Centre.
The 100km walk is expected to take five days, from 8 a.m - 5 p.m every day and the trekkers have been hard at work putting the finishing touches to their preparations.
Fundraiser Lynn Jarvis, said: "We did the Linlithgow to Falkirk walk along the canal at the weekend and it went very well, with most of the team joining in.
"We're all really excited – the time since we started organising it has just flown past.
"We have some huge tents which sleep about eight people but as there is no chance of rain, I think we will just sleep under the stars – in amongst the scorpions and snakes!"
Some of the participants have come up with unusual ways to prepare for the heat.
Lynn said: "Some people have been on holidays so they've been able to go for walks in the sunshine. Others have been even been going to a sauna to get used to the heat.
"You can't really train for it, you've just got to make sure your leg muscles are ready, and hope for the best!"
If the heat does get too much for them, the group will at least be able to look cool in specially printed t-shirts donated by Source Active Wear from Ladybank industrial estate.
It is hoped the trek will raise £60,000 for the Sensory Centre which is on schedule to open in May.
The Best Western Park Hotel in Camelon Road has also been collecting cash for the centre, which will provide a facility where blind, partially sighted, deaf and deaf blind people can access a wide range of services under one roof.
Raffles and donations from the hotel's cloakroom on Christmas party nights raised £1233.95 which was presented to Lynn Jarvis by hotel manager Iain Templeton.