Lord Bill McKenzie will launch a new charity, set up by entrepreneur Nigel Hyde, this Saturday, May 10, in The Mall.
Mr Hyde set up the charity, Home Leone, to help build a thousand homes in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
He said: “I have been to over 70 countries and Sierra Leone has perhaps the worst chronic long term poverty I have seen.”
Local runners who completed the same course 23 years ago will be at the launch from 11am.
A replica house will be on display outside Debenhams to show the conditions that they live in.
To help raise money, David Hall, of Colin road, will run from Lands End to John O’Groats, the equivalent of 40 marathons in 40 days.
He will be running in August and September, followed by a trailer carrying the replica house.
The 50-year-old said: “This is a huge personal challenge for me.”
He hopes to raise £5000, the cost of one house, supporters have pledged to pay for four more houses.
Mr Hyde said: “I have money for 5 homes but you know if that was all I was able to do then that is 5 families lives forever transformed.”
For more information visit: www.missiondirect.org/homeleone