124 miles through the Brazilian rainforest (From Witney Gazette)

124 miles through the Brazilian rainforest

9:00am Wednesday 15th November 2006 in Witney By Maddy Biddulph

BEING in the army means Fred Keeling is used to being put through his paces.

But nothing could prepare him for the sweltering conditions he endured while running in one of the toughest races in the world, known as the Jungle Marathon.

He spent seven days running 124 miles through the Brazilian rainforest, in memory of his late friend - with his food, medical kit, and camping gear on his back.

Mr Keeling, 22, who is stationed at Larkhill, near Salisbury, set himself the gruelling challenge to raise money for a charity set up by Sophie Watson, who lived in Cornwell, near Chipping Norton. With the help of her brother, Harry, who wrote more than 1,000 letters to people appealing for sponsorship, the pair raised almost £30,000 for SCCWID (Sophie's Campaign for the Children's Ward for Interesting things to Do).

The charity was set up by 18-year-old cancer victim and former Burford School pupil, Sophie, who had personally raised £90,000 for the paediatric department at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, before losing her battle with a knee tumour in 2000. After her death, her family - mother, Selina, father, Alastair, sister, Alice, and Harry - adopted the project, selling clothing with the SCCWID logo to teenagers.

After the Children's Hospital Campaign appeal was launched in 2002, the Watsons agreed to raise £250,000 specifically for the campaign.

Mr Keeling said the jungle marathon was tougher than he thought it would be.

He said: "In the jungle, it was running in really humid temperatures, about 38 degrees.

"But the last day, we had to come out of the jungle, and run across the beach in direct sunlight, which was about 42 degrees." He said he was quite surprised to learn how much he and Harry had raised for SCCWID.

A percentage of the funds raised will also go to the Army Benevolent Fund.

Harry, 18, of Cornwell, also said he was amazed by people's generosity to the cause.

He said: "We got a mailing list, and had a really good response.

"From the letters - and there are still more coming in - we've raised about £27,600."

The family is just about £60,000 off their total fundraising target.