Billing Manager, Annie Dougall, (pictured centre right) has been praised for her “awesome achievement” after tackling one of the world’s toughest physical challenges.

Annie, who works for Sembcorp Bournemouth Water (SBW), raised £6,000 for charity by completing the gruelling Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon in South Africa. She was among a seven-strong Sembcorp global team taking part in the 155 mile (250km) test of endurance in daytime temperatures of more than 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).

The seven day run, across the Northern Cape close to the South African border with Namibia, comprised an energy-sapping combination of desert and mountainous terrain. Annie survived searing heat, scorpions, lizards, bugs and agonising blisters to compete against 44 other runners from across the world.

The race featured seven stages of between 19 miles and 49 miles per day through desert sands, fertile valleys and the rocky outcrops of the Augrabies Falls National Park in the footsteps of the legendary Bushmen of the Kalahari.

Each runner carried a backpack of around 12 kilograms, or just under two stone, consisting of an essential daily water supply plus all their food, clothes and safety equipment for the event.

Annie said: “The event completely took over my life but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was very tough but I can’t thank Sembcorp enough for letting me be part of such an amazing experience.”

The total sum raised from Annie’s exploits was £3,000 with SBW adding a further £3,000. The money has been divided equally between the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation and WaterAid.