A PERTH cancer sufferer is to endure the sweltering summer heat of the Grand Canyon to try to raise thousands of pounds for the hospital where he is receiving treatment.

David Hutcheson (54), who suffers from chronic myeloid leukaemia and spends much of his time at Perth Royal Infirmary’s haematology unit, is to embark on a trek of the canyon in heat up to 40 degrees during the day and below freezing at night.

He said, “I have spent a lot of time at the new unit at PRI and the staff and treatment you get are great. But there are extras like more comfortable chairs and better facilities to make visits a bit more comfortable which they can’t afford.”

Mr Hutcheson will fly out in May with up to two dozen fellow fund-raisers supporting various charities and will spend a week in the desert. He will cover around 100km before ending up in Las Vegas, where he will do his best to resist the temptation to try to double his money.

Mr Hutcheson, director of Perth firm Glen Abbot, is no stranger to hard treks, having previously completed the John Muir Trail in California for the Aberlour Child Care Trust.

But with a daily regime of chemotherapy drugs to endure, he has enlisted a little help with his training from his friend, Olympic gold medallist Liz McColgan, who prepared a three-month programme for him at her Carnoustie fitness centre.

He said, “Liz has been great and said she will do whatever she can to help.

“She is the patron of Leukaemia Research UK and has met so many people in my position so she said she will help raise the profile of what I’m doing.”

Mr Hutcheson’s progress up to and during his trek can be followed at www.canyoncanter.org— where people can also donate money to the cause.