Story
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<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">2013, will we survive the end of the world in Dec 2012, I am hoping so because I am going to be entering one of the toughest footrace on earth!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a title="Linf to Darbaroud" href="http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"The Marathon Des Sables".</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a journey for me that started in January 2008 and way before I even get to that start line in Morocco.<br /> <br />20 years ago I appeared in films such as Robin Hood Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and Shining through with Liam Neeson. However in more recent time’s life got in the way of that strapping man that I once was and my weight increased to 30 stone I was also smoking 20 a day. In Jan 2008 I stopped smoking. I started dieting in March 2008, I entered a 5k running race in June that year, I then completed the Silverstone Half Marathon in March 2009, I am now down to 24 stone and still have a way to go to reach my target of 15 stone but the more I lose the faster I lose it. It was from that point on that my life has changed forever and a marathon wasn't going to be enough to fulfil my dreams as my final running conquest. I had to complete some thing tougher so I found the “toughest foot race on earth”.<br /> <br />On Sep 22nd 2008 I started my Becoming a </span><a href="http://www.realbuzz.com/blogs/u/eclipse/becoming-an-ultra-marathon-runner/"><span style="font-size: small;">ultra Marathon man Blog</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">, In April 2009 I entered the </span><a href="http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php"><span style="font-size: small;">Marathon Des Sables</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">(MDS) and I got in for the 2012 however due to me having to have an operation in 2011 I had to cancel and re-apply for 2013 and I am now on the reserved list, the </span><a href="http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php"><span style="font-size: small;">Marathon Des Sables</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> is a 153 mile footrace across the Sahara Desert, it is the equivalent of running 5.5 marathons back to back but in the sand, only around 700 competitors each year can take part in this, it is a very elite race, My training continues, my charity work is just getting started and all I need to do now is get to and across the finish line.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whilst I realise that a lot of people have their issues that go against doing something as tough as this I thought I would share some of the things that make this race even tougher, I have Arthritis of the spine and was told that it was unlikely I could take up running any distance let alone ultra marathons, I have sciatica and I need to lose in total 15 stones which in itself is tough (I love my food) and I found stopping smoking easier than dieting.</span></span></span>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I like many others will be trying to raise money for charity by doing this event, I have chosen a charity very close to my heart which is </span><a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx"><span style="font-size: small; color: #800080;">MacMillan Cancer Research</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">, on Dec 15th 2010 my wife lost her sister "Donna" to Bowl cancer, Donna battled for 2 years with this and MacMillan were on hand to help her through it, RIP Donna.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">As with any great charity challenge I will not be alone. I have the help and support of all my family and friends but to ensure that I achieve maximum sponsorship for </span><a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx"><span style="font-size: small; color: #800080;">MacMillan cancer Research</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> I need your help, I hope you can see how tough this is going to be for me and that I will work hard to ensure that any money that you give will be well worth giving</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Arial;">I have also just completed a life time goal of running in the 2011 London Marathon, this was tougher than I thought it would be but it wouldnt have been much fun if it wasnt.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Donating through Just Giving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with Just Giving – 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.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">So please dig deep and donate now.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please check out the following links.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://mdsorbust.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://mdsorbust.blogspot.com/</span></span></span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php</span></span></span></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hadn't exercised in over 20 years so trying to get back to fitness is a lot harder than I thought but with my dogged determination I know I will reach my weight and fitness level. </span></span></p>
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