A couple whose son died after an asthma attack are to trek 100km across the Sahara Desert to help families of other asthma sufferers.

Judith and Brian Shaw, pictured, have been raising money for the National Asthma Campaign ever since their son Daniel died in November 1999.

"The fundraising keeps us focused throughout the year," said Mrs Shaw. "It won't help us or Daniel, but the money we raise might prevent other families going through what we did."

The couple have also booked York Racecourse for a day in August to host a giant It's a Knockout event. This could raise as much as £50,000 for the National Asthma Campaign and Macmillan nurses.

The Sahara trek takes place in November, but the couple and their 14 friends and family members have to raise at least £2,000 each to take part. They have already raised £3,000 for the charity.

"The trek will be draining, both emotionally and physically and will be a real challenge," said Mrs Shaw, of Richmond Park Avenue, Roberttown. "I haven't done as much training as I probably should have!"

They will walk for seven hours a day for seven days in temperatures of 30 degrees during the day and will sleep in tents with no facilities at night.

Mrs Shaw, a schoolteacher with three other children, said the trek had been organised last November on the anniversary of Daniel's death.

"My dad also died last October and my husband and I were very down," she said. "As a way of pulling ourselves out of it we looked for a focus, which was the Sahara trek. We will do it on the second anniversary of Daniel's death."

Future fundraising events include a children's disco at the Charnwood pub in Heckmond-wike on Saturday, March 31. Under-11s will dance from 6pm to 8pm and 11 to 16s from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.

A casino night is to take place at The Aagrah restaurant near Tadcaster on May 1 with all money going to charity, and Mrs Shaw has organised a spiritualist evening at Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre in Turnsteads Avenue on May 16.

Companies wanting to enter teams for the It's a Knockout event should contact Mrs Shaw on (01924) 506951.