My story

250km…7 days…in the sands of the Sahara desert…in temperatures up to 40 degrees… reputedly the toughest footrace in the world, and I not going to disagree!

The good news is, I've done it and I'm still alive... I even have all 10 toenails! Overall it was an amazing experience, as well as being the hardest thing I've ever done.

In case I've not already explained it to you, the MDS is a multi-day ultra marathon. The stages were 29km, 35km, 40km,  80km, 42km and 21km. The experience of being uttterly exhausted and then having to get up the next day and do the same (and more!) again was one of the hardest things about it, both mentally and physically. You also have to be entirely self-sufficient for the duration of the race, carrying all your own food and equipment, although you're giving a tent to sleep in and water along the way. I started out with a not-so-competitive 11kg, which made the early days difficult, although it's mostly food so the weight does go down during the course of the weeks. The racing snakes start out with about 7kg, carrying 2000 calories a day and not much else.  

I'm still not quite sure what drove me to do this in the first place, but I have no regrets now! It really was one of the best experiences of my life and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take part.  I'm also very glad that my participation has enabled me to raise money for Merlin.

It’s a fantastic charity which sends emergency medical teams to disaster areas all over the world, most recently in Haiti. They also have long term projects in some of the poorest countries in the world to build up health services and train local health workers. From training midwives in Afghanistan to setting up clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo. http://www.merlin.org.uk/

This page will be up for a while yet, so there's still plenty of time to donate - any amount, however small would be  greatly appreciated. Really, it all adds up!

I’m covered all the travel and entry costs for the MDS myself, so all the money I raise goes straight to Merlin. And don’t forget to tick the gift aid box if you’re a UK taxpayer.

Thank you!

Julia x

For more information about the MDS: http://www.darbaroud.com/  

My gallery 1

My Teams

My company

My charity

Merlin

Merlin

Charity Registration No. 1016607

When disaster strikes, Merlin's medical experts are there, doing whatever it takes to save lives. And when the cameras have moved on, we stay. Taking communities from emergency to recovery, we work together to revive health services in some of the world's toughest places.

Donations 63

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If it was anyone else, we'd think they'd gone insane, but we've come to expect this lvel of craziness from you! What an amazing challenge! Good luck xx

Donation by Liz (and Ollie!) Williamson on 24/02/10

£26.00

+ £7.33 Gift Aid

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Go Jules! You're the best...

Donation by Olivia Sibony on 24/02/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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Hulietta!! Go Gooliax You are true trooper, sterling effort for such a good cause, wish I could come and cheer you on from side lines?! xxHels

Donation by Helena Paffey on 23/02/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Jacob Sullivan on 23/02/10

£100.00

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If anyone can do, you can Jules - seriously hardcore - go girl!!

Donation by SALLY NILSSON on 23/02/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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You are absolutely crazy!! But lots of luck and I hope you enjoy the experience (even if it sounds like torture to me!!) xx

Donation by Sharon Williams on 23/02/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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Can;t believe you're doing this! GOOD LUCK!! xxx

Donation by Jo Dowbekin on 23/02/10

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

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Yehey, babes, go for it!! Send my love to the desert and look out for gazelles for me!! Much love and huggles from the Rheinland!

Donation by Lini on 22/02/10

£50.00

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Mentalist.

Donation by Matt Sadler on 22/02/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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Good luck! If you finish I will double my meagre donation!

Donation by Alexander Greene on 22/02/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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I've heard that if you start feeling good during the MdS, you shouldn't worry- you'll soon get over it! Have a great time and be strong in every way. N

Donation by Nic on 22/02/10

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

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Jules - absolutely fantasic!! Best of luck and looking forward to hearing all about it!!

Donation by Ollie Williamson on 22/02/10

£15.00

+ £4.23 Gift Aid

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Vamos Julia, a por el Maraton de las Arenas!

Donation by Miguel on 13/02/10

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$4,088.13
  • Offline donations$180.66
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$4,268.79
  • Gift Aid$366.03

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.