Do you think you have what it takes to complete the UK’s ultimate trail running challenge?
That’s a question I’m trying to answer…I’m running 7 coastal trail marathons in 7 months at 7 locations around SW England and Wales. I’m 4 down: Dorset, Gower, Portland and South Devon with 3 to go: Pembrokeshire, Cornwall and Exmoor
http://www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=29&location=84
My goal is to raise as much money as possible for CAMDA, a small charity with a long reach. Please click the link below to find out more about the natural disaster that has already claimed the lives of 3 million livestock and threatens to destroy a way of life for thousands of nomadic herders.
As many of you know, Annie and I went to Mongolia on our honeymoon last year; we fell in love with the place, the people and their way of life. And now they need our help!
Summer droughts followed by extreme winter weather (-40 degrees Celsius daytime and -50 degrees Celsius at night) has claimed the lives of 95,000 horses, almost 1 million sheep and over 1.5 million goats. The animals are the herders’ only income. More than 70% have less than 200; these poorer herders will be worst hit and left with too few animals to live on.
The likely result will be mass rural-urban migration where there won’t be the resources to cope, leaving herders caught in poverty with few prospects.
Please dig deep and give what you can.
Thank-you
Andy
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
- - - - - - - - - - - update 29th March 2010 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just a massive thank-you to everyone who has donated so far, I can't put into words what it means to me and the difference you have all made to the herders in Mongolia.
I'm now 5 down, with 2 to go. I set off fast on Saturday and at 11.2 miles was on for a PB, however it turned into a real test in the back third and the last 3 miles went on forever! So rest day yesterday, then back in the pool tonight, back running intervals on Wednesday, 6 miles on Friday and 20 miles on Sunday. I ran the half marathon in Cornwall last year and it's no place to turn up under prepared.....2 to go!
- - - - - - - - - - - update 28th April 2010 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm now 6 down and 1 to go!!!! Also no big toenails, and blisters are becoming a constant maintenance issue! Last Saturday was the most brutal marathon yet! it started out with 8 - 9 miles along a coastal path strewn with granite boulders the size of cars which had to be scrambled over! The hard packed paths and rocks made for ankle-wrecking descents and there were a number of casualties who had to be medi-vac'd off the course! So I was glad to make it home in one piece and on to Exmoor for the series finale.
- - - - - - - - - - - - update 17th May 2010 - - - - - - - - - - -
A hard training session yesterday with my running mate "Min" and the legend that is Pete Roper, the guys who's set the bar in terms of off road running. Seeing him hurl himself down descents which any sensible mountain goat would think twice about was in equal measures inspiring and terrifying!! Bring on Exmoor and the series finale!!!!
The thaw is slowly starting in Mongolia, where the death toll to 19th April (latest figures) is 6.8 million livestock - more than double the number when I started my appeal. This includes over 230,000 horses, over 376,000 yak/cattle and millions of the precious cashmere producing goats. The money being raised by CAMDA has never been more needed. Many, many herders have had their lives destroyed and have drifted to the capital UB where they face a very uncertain future. Efforts now are on supporting the herders who are struggling to keep going.
I have one more big effort left in my legs, so to crown things off and shamlessly ask you to donate every penny you feel you can I'm going for one more challenge after my 7x7x7.
I'm going to run from England's most southerly point (Lizard Point Lighthouse) along the SW Coastal Path to the most westerly point...Lands End from dawn to dusk on 26th June - that's 44 miles of awesome coastal running with a total ascent of 7,850ft.
http://www.endurancelife.com/event.asp?series=38&location=102
Please dig deep and give what you can to those who've lost the only way of life they know.
Andy
