About the Marathon Des Sables

I am currently training to take part in the 2008 Marathon des Sables a 6 day / 151 mile (243km) endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, taking place at the end of March / beginning of April next year.

I know it's going to be tough to say the least and I am full of trepidation - the equivalent of 5 1/2 marathons in 6 days in 120 degree temperatures over sand dunes and rock carrying all food and equipment.

You might ask why. I do regularly as I train! I suppose it boils down to two things; the first sounds corny however you describe it but has to do with life ambition and rising to an extreme physical and mental challenge - achieving something unique; the second is far from corny - the charity that I feel strongly about and have decided to support and raise funds for by running.

Facing Africa fights the dreadful NOMA disease that disfigures and kills some of the least privileged children in the world - amongst other works they send out specialist medical teams who carry out reconstructive surgery and literally create new faces and lives for these unfortunates. The link below will take you to their website. It's not easy to look at.

Online donations

Sponsor me online in aid of Facing Africa and view the amount I have raised on the Facing Africa sponsors page.

Links

• www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA
• www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
• www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS
• www.bestofmorocco.co.uk - Tailor-made trips to Morocco (marathon not compulsory)