A SCHOOL counsellor put her best foot forward for a mental health charity by trekking 114km across the Sahara desert. Nell Douglas Miller, a member of staff at Monmouth School for Girls, successfully completed the Sahara 100km Tribal Challenge Desert Trek last month to help raise more than £45,000 in aid of The Charlie Waller Trust – a charity that provides mental health training, resources and consultancy with a focus on children and young people.

Following the Marathon de Sables route, her team trekked through dunes, valleys, gorges and stunning oases and camped under the skies at night with a support crew of camels, local desert guides and cooks.

They also experienced scorching daytime temperatures of 40-50C and freezing temperatues at night.

Nell, who raised almost £3,000 herself, said: “I can’t thank everyone enough for their fabulous and generous support for Charlie Waller Mental Health.

“We had much laughter, some tears, blisters and camping chaos but wonderful team, Moroccans, and desert immersion.”

She added: “The team has raised upwards of £45,000, which will make a huge difference to the work they can do going forwards.

“The Charlie Waller Trust raises awareness of depression and other mental health problems and provides training to schools, universities, workplaces, GPs and nurses.”

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