AN IT contractor will be swapping the warmth of his home for the bitter cold of Scandinavia as he prepares for an eight-day Arctic adventure in aid of charity.

The icy conditions England is currently experiencing will be nothing compared with the temperatures of -30C that Andy Gilhooly, from Broad-field Gardens, Warndon Villages, Worcester, will experience on the Lapland Husky Trail Trek.

The 37-year-old signed up for the challenge to raise cash for Acorns Children's Hospice Trust, which opened a new hospice in Worcester's Bath Road in March this year.

The gruelling challenge involves six days trekking through the freezing Arctic conditions in northern Scand-inavia, starting in Helligsko-gen in Norway and finishing 250km away in Jukkasjarvi in Sweden.

Andy will be part of a 20-strong group accompanied by five guides and some 150 huskies, slogging for up to 14 hours each day through the icy wilderness. They will spend the days mushing through the awe-inspiring landscapes and nights camping out by semi-frozen rivers.

Although he did a sponsored bike ride for charity 12 years ago, it will be the first time he has taken on such a mammoth task. He said: "The event really captured my imagination so I thought I'd go for it - I'm looking forward to it. It will be hard work but I'm not afraid of that.

"I'm just looking forward to pitting my wits against the elements and seeing what it's like surviving out there."

The trek is not until the end of March next year but in the meantime, Andy will be busy training and fund-raising for the big challenge.

He is planning to raise £3,500 for Acorns and is organising a whole host of events, including snail racing nights, raffles, auctions and to bring in the cash.

Andy has already raised about £800 and has also signed up for an initiative to collect old mobile phones for recycling, with the organisation involved pledging £4 to Acorns for every handset they receive.

To sponsor Andy, visit: www.justgiving.com/snowbelly or by telephoning 07966 470236.