Story
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2008 I made the bizarre and, with hindsight, slightly irrational decision to sign up for the 26<sup>th</sup> Marathon</span><span style="font-size: small;"> des Sables. Fast-forward a few years and apparently the time has come for me to don my all in one suit, dust off the D of E hardened gaiters and join the world of ‘lunatics and masochists’. On Thursday 31<sup>st</sup> March I will fly out to Morocco</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and begin my Marathon</span><span style="font-size: small;"> des Sables challenge. I will be covering 151 miles over 6 days in temperatures which may reach 50⁰ Celsius; tripping over rocky terrain, dodging blisters and to add insult to injury, I will be expected to carry my trusty belongings, anti venom pump and rations included; where’s Ocado when you need them…</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have chosen to run for two charities which both do fantastic work and have helped those closest to me. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My other charity is FSID. FSID </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN">aims to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health. If you would like to sponsor FSID, the </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">page can be found at –</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Hickinbotham2">http://www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Hickinbotham2</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;">Hopefully, I'll be able to update everyone on my progress through the event as the official MdS website will show a list of finishers after each day. At least you'll know if I'm alive. The run itself starts on 3 April and finishes on 9 April. From the 2-10 April, you can theoretically send me messages, again via the </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/">official website</a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;">, although I won't be able to respond directly. Click on "write to runners" or "écrire aux concurrents"; you’ll need my running number (dossard) of 765. Feel free to entertain me with inconsequential gossip, a quick “keep going” or “put your foot down” or even inspirational and life changing advice. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although many of you are just about ready to commit me, I would really appreciate any spare change, pay cheque or winning lottery ticket you can afford to hand over. I have personally funded the cost of the ‘trip’ and all it entails so all money goes directly to the charities. Both charities I will be running for are incredibly worthwhile and the more money I can raise for them, the more being heckled by 8 year olds as I limp up the school stairs will seem worthwhile.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank yoooouuuu! xxx</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.suerydercare.org/pages/about_us.html?gclid=CJyzl87NracCFYFB4Qod1lAqnQ"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sue Ryder Care</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ansi-language: EN;" lang="EN"><span style="font-size: small;">supports people living with conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia and stroke at 6 specialist palliative care centres, 7 care centres for people with complex conditions, 15 homecare services and a growing portfolio of tailored community-based services. Having seen the support they can offer first hand, I cannot praise them enough.</span></span></p>