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On April 5 I will be taking part in the Marathon des Sables (The MdS).

Known as the toughest footrace on earth, this is a six day race across the Sahara Desert, completing the equivalent of 6 marathons in those six days (156 miles in total).

We will be covering some of the most varied and inhospitable terrain on the planet, in temperatures of 50 degrees C. The rules also require you to be self sufficient, carrying your equipment for the week on your back.

As well as the personal challenge involved in this, I am running the MdS to try and raise awareness for the work done by Treetops Hospice in Derbyshire, which has strong connections to my Grandparents.

Treetops provides respite and palliative care for adults with illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. It also provides help and support to their carers and families.

Treetops run a Day Care centre in Risley and a Bereavement Support Service in Sandiacre for adults, children and families. In addition to this, Treetops Hospice nurses travel across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, providing end of life care for patients in their own homes.

As a registered charity, all the services are provided free of charge. It costs £2million to run the hospice each year; the majority of which needs to be raised through charitable donations and fundraising events.

To get further details of the great work the hospice does, please click here:

http://www.treetopshospice.org.uk/

For more details on the Marathon Des Sables click here:

http://www.marathondessables.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_des_Sables

Please donate whatever you can. Any donation of any size will help.

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So please dig deep and donate now.