Thank you for visiting my Dyslexia fundraising page. Please visit my main home page which gives full details of the race and why I have entered.

HOME PAGE: www.grandalpha.co.uk

The 21st "Marathon des Sables", spring, 2006 is a 151 mile (243 km) endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara. Competitors have to be totally self sufficient, carrying all their own equipment (except a tent) and food needed for the race - only water is issued on a daily basis.

Temperatures regularly soar to 49°C plummeting to around 4°C at night.

In 2004, MdS 19, the daily stages were as follows:
Day 1 - 17.4 miles (28 km)
Day 2 - 21.1 miles (34 km) Day 3 - 23.0 miles (37 km) (dunes day) Day 4 - 47.1 miles (76 km) Day 6 - Full Marathon (42.2 km) Day 7 - 12.4 miles (20 km) Day 5 is scheduled as a rest day, but most people are still running day 4! I am raising money for the DI due to being dyslexic myself, although I did not know this until I was assessed at the tender age of 32 whilst doing an Open University degree. I hope the money I raise can go towards assessing more kids, so they can find the help they need at a time in their life when they most need it. About 10% of the population have some form of dyslexia. About 4% are severely dyslexic, including some 375,000 schoolchildren. Dyslexia causes difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Short-term memory, mathematics, concentration, personal organisation and sequencing may be affected. Dyslexia is biological in origin and tends to run in families, but environmental factors may also contribute to it. Dyslexia affects all kinds of people regardless of intelligence, race or social class. The effects of dyslexia can largely be overcome by skilled specialist teaching and the use of compensatory strategies. The earlier the intervention the better the outcome. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Dyslexia Institute will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please help and sponsor me now! Many thanks for your support, Nigel