A gruelling six-day trek across the Sahara Desert and a 24-kilometre bike ride around south Devon are part of a fund raising effort to dig the Rowcroft Hospice out of its financial black hole.

More than 100 cyclists have already signed up for the charity’s first ever cycle event called Ride for Rowcroft which is due to go ahead on October 1.

Meanwhile Rowcroft is encouraging adventurers to sign up for a six day trek across the Sahara due to take place next year to help raise vital funds for the charity which cares for people with life limiting illnesses and their families.

Rowcroft Hospice bosses recently revealed that the charity was faced with cutting some of its vital services after it was left facing a declining income plus an increase in demand.

The hospice has set itself a target of £585,000 raised over the next year in a massive emergency fund raising effort to ensure it can continue to look after the 2,000 local people and their families that it cares for each year.

The bike ride starts and finished at Newton Abbot Racecourse and Rowcroft is aiming to sign up a minimum of 250 riders to take part.

It is open to cyclists aged over 16 years and takes in Bovey Tracey, and Chudleigh Knighton. Entry is £20 per biker and people have to sign up before Wednes­day August 31.

Rowcroft’s six-day Sahara trek starts and finishes in Ouarzazate, Morocco, offering those who take part the chance to climb to the peak of the Chigaga Dunes to witness a stunning sunrise, view the incredible High Atlas Mountains and sip authentic mint tea with the locals.

To take part in the challenge in February next year, the hospice asks that participants pay a one off, non-refundable £199 registration fee and then agree to raise £1800 for the hospice.

Jon Hill, acting chief executive of Rowcroft, said: ‘We have recently launched an urgent fundraising appeal to restore the hospice to a strong financial position.

‘Over the next twelve months we are asking people to support Rowcroft in whatever way they can; by taking part in events such as Ride for Rowcroft you’ll be helping to safeguard Rowcroft’s future and ensure we can continue to care for circa 2000 people and their families each year.’

He added: ‘We have developed a three year plan to ensure we can continue to care for 2000 local people and their families each year, but we need to raise an additional £585,000 over the next 12 months to make this possible.

‘There are many ways you can support Rowcroft to help this happen, from making a monthly donation or playing our weekly lottery, to signing up to trek to the top of a mountain!

‘Whichever option you choose, we are so incredibly grateful for your support.’

It costs the hospice more than £8m a year to provide its services and of this almost three-quarters is funded through donations and legacies. The NHS provides funding for the remaining 27 per cent of its costs.

The hospice recently announced that a decline in its legacy income, increase in demand for services and the financial pressures on the NHS had led to the current funding position and left it faced with making more than £1m of savings.

For more details about the hospice, fundraising activities or to make a donation, go to: http://www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/