Who am I doing this for?
In short Mencap - they the voice of learning disability. Everything they do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
Everyday you take for granted the faculties and abilities you and I have as a human without thinking about it, everyday. Imagine if you were suddenly treated as 'different' and did not have very much control over your life and faced challenges and prejudice every day.
Just sit and think for a moment... By doing this challenge i can raise a much greater awareness for the charity, and you can help me by donating. It would mean so much and make a huge difference.
About the Marathon Des Sables
Well, what can i say man wasn't designed to run 6 consecutive marathons over 6 days carrying a 15kg rucksack, over sand dunes, mountains and plains. The body isn't designed for this, I know at the time of writing this missive mine isn't just yet!
Running with complete self sufficiency, navigating by yourself, carrying your own water, day temperatures hitting 50C and dropping to zero at night - no wonder this is billed at the toughest footrace on the planet.
Why would i want to do this
Good question, right now it seems like a fantastic way to get fit, maybe that notion will evaporate quicker than my first bead of sweat as i hit the first sand dune. Its the sheer adventure that drives me to this, the romantic notion of running across the Sahara and completing what seems to be the impossible. I have a great teacher to help me over the next 15 months, he will be putting me through some extreme training schemes as devised by an Ex MDS Runner (Big thanks to Harley)
- running up hills lot and lots of very steep hills
- fell running somewhere ludicrously difficult
- running with rucksacks full of weights
- climbing thousands of steps
- running on the beach - in lose sand!!
- running 5 marathons, doing a triathalon and two ultra's
Yikes!
Ok, so now you know how fit you need to be to run the MDS, you can appreciate the pain and commitment I will be putting my self through - so please please please share my pain from the comfort of your computer and donate some pounds or for my journey to hell and back!
Sponsorship
If you would like to sponsor my epic adventure with your brand I would glady take rucksacks, running shoes, running tops, portable camcorders, watches, nutriontional supplements or energy bars - anything that will help you promote your brand in such harsh desert conditions and help me get through the 6 days of the 'toughest footrace on earth'
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Mencap gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now! And if you can guess where i will come in the 700 or so contestants for the race you will win a prize - put your guess into the comments :)
You can follow me on my blog at http://www.acrossthesahara.com
Thank you so much
Ande
Raised:
73%
Raised so far: £5,889.50
|
Donation by Mark Baker on 13/04/10 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
|
|
Bit superstitious about doing it before:) Congratulations. Amazing stuff. Donation by Claire Wardle on 11/04/10 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
|
|
Inspiring stuff Ande, keep it going! Donation by Paul Kane on 07/04/10 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
|
|
Your message...Hope that practice dune in Exmouth prepared you for this :P Donation by Lisa Zilberpriver on 06/04/10 |
£20.00 |
|
|
Donation by Kate Carruthers on 04/04/10 |
£5.00 |
|
Good Luck Ande! Donation by Rich Baker on 30/03/10 |
|
|
|
Enjoy! Donation by Kate Pickering on 28/03/10 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
|
Good luck Ande, great cause, great challenge! Donation by @jon_bedford on 10/03/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Good luck mate, proud of you! Maybe give it a try, but I think doing 1 marathon might satisfy me! Enjoy, have salt, wear a hat, watch your feet, Smile! Donation by Nila Matthews on 10/03/10 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
|
|
good luck Donation by Simon Vandore on 04/02/10 |
£20.00 |
|
an amazing thing to do for an amazing thing. keep the sand out the cracks you will be fine! Donation by shane walter on 23/12/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Go Ande! Donation by Minymoggy on 23/12/09 |
£10.00 |
|
|
I'm sure there are nicer ways to enjoy the Sahara. Give the desert my best. Donation by JK on 23/12/09 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
|
Mad - clearly. Admirable - definitely. Go Ande! Donation by @VentnorBlog on 06/06/09 |
£50.00 |
|
|
Fortune favours the brave! Donation by Anonymous on 24/05/09 |
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid |
|
|
Looks like a great cause, good luck! Donation by Tom WeAreVI on 21/05/09 |
£32.50 + £9.17 Gift Aid |
|
|
On the recommendation of Dee Jackson (Media140) Donation by Richard Sedley on 18/05/09 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
|
|
go for it Ande! Donation by @aventures @fieldreports on 13/05/09 |
£70.00 |
|
|
Great cause, magnificent way to support it, go dailytwitter, go! Donation by jmm403 / Jean-Marie on 18/04/09 |
£20.00 |
|
|
A good cause - good luck you'll need it! Donation by @yellowbag on 17/04/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Good Luck! Speak to Rich Mc for advice on running in the desert. Donation by Stoney on 05/04/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
|
|
Wow i have only run one marathon at a time! Much admiration. I work with special needs kids . So worthy cause. Good luck x Donation by Pinky on 25/02/09 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
"Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, but never stop". I know you'll do it :-) Donation by Girl Friday / Jane / Lulubella?! on 25/02/09 |
£152.00 + £42.87 Gift Aid |
|
|
Good luck! Donation by James Small on 19/02/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
|
|
good luck! Donation by Holly Golightly on 19/02/09 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
| * Total raised online: | £889.50 |
|---|---|
| Offline donations: | £5,000.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £5,889.50 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £193.06 |
* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out
how much it is and what we do for it.