About the Marathon Des Sables

The MdS is a 6 day / 230km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco and will take place between 7^th and 18^th April. Typically, the race will be split into legs of 16M, 21M, 24M, 51M, 26.2M and 13M which is equivalent to 5 and a half regular marathons.

During this time the competitors (myself included!) have to carry everything we will need for the duration (apart from water and a tent) on our backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag, etc) over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures upto 50°C.

Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables

I'll be attempting to complete the 20^th MdS partly as the challenge of a lifetime (although if I survive you never know!) and partly to raise money for charity. After careful consideration, I decided to raise money for Facing Africa as a relatively small amount of money can make a big difference to the lives of people afflicted by this terrible disease.

Charity

Donations can be made online on the website for Facing Africa and you can mention my name in the sponsorship box (please). Additionally, anyone with a mobile can log onto www.smsaid.org/facingafrica/ which will generate income for the charity for the mere inconvenience of receiving sms messages, which are easily deleted.

So far I've received pledges of £1,000 for McVities Carlisle Charity and several hundred pounds from friends and colleagues, and there's still time yet!

Links

• United Biscuits are sponsoring me - thankyou.
• www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
• www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA
• Sponsor me / donate to Facing Africa - please put my name in the sponsorship box
• www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS
• www.bestofmorocco.co.uk - Tailor-made trips to Morocco (marathon not compulsory)