Raised: 197%
Target: £5,000.00
Raised so far: £9,832.50
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My story

 

My first (and only) race to date was the London Marathon 2 years ago & the support I got and generosity of everyone that gave was hugely inspiring. It also meant that when it had finished I knew one day I could do something like it again. Well, 2 years late and I'm back, only this time it's going to be a little harder (wouldn't be fair to ask you to sponsor me if you or I know I can finish - where's the fun in that?!) and it's a lot more personal......  

The hard bit - Time Magazine recently put the Sahara Race second in its top ten most challenging world endurance competitions. It’s a 250-kilometer race across the Sahara Desert

The really hard bit - I will be running on sand dunes in quite ridiculous temperatures.

The 'well now its getting silly' bit - I will have to carry everything I need to survive until the end - food, equipment, clothing - even an electricity source if I want to power my i-pod! 

The 'don't tell the wife and new baby' bit - I am paying for ALL of the costs (flights, entry fees etc); any and all money donated will go to Lupus UK to fund their research work and nothing else.

The 'kick him while he's down' bit (& I think this is the worst bit) - at the outset I was part of a team - unfortunately I will now be going it alone.......

The personal (and slightly serious) bit - Quite obviously only an idiot would even think to try this so why do it? Well, luckily, I'm an idiot.... I'm actually running to raise money for Lupus UK. Lupus is an incurable, life-threatening, immune system illness that an estimated 50,000 people suffer from, one of whom is my little sister Clare. I wont go into all of the detail here (check out their website if you want to find out more - www.lupusuk.org.uk) but I will say that it's a horrible illness (it puts running in a bit of sand into perspective), it has a huge impact and sadly there is nowhere near enough funding available for adequate research into treatments or even a cure. 

Your bit - 

So in order to make this all worthwhile I need to raise a cart load of cash (or I might as well have given the entry fee to Lupus UK and stayed in bed!). Without begging, I need your money. Whatever you can give:

- if you can only manage £500 that's OK, you can give anonymously

- if you want to add a bit more interest (and help motivate me even more) I would love a few interesting bets - after all, I have no idea if I can do it either!! 

I would also ask forgiveness in advance if I hound you over the next few months.....it's all for a good cause!!

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: LUPUS gets your money faster and, if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Well done - sorry it's taken so long to donate. Donation by Cara 14/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done we knew you could do it love Tricia David James Laura Nanna and Maurice xxx Donation by Tricia Myott 05/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

I hope you have told everyone of you gallant effort in climbing the dunes on Day 2. Awesome performance. Donation by Gary Hearns 05/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Shanthi Ayres 03/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done! Always knew you could do it, just looking forward to the next adventure now ;o) Donation by Clare & Chris 02/11/09  

£150.00 + £42.31 Gift Aid

Fantastic achievement - congratulations. We hope your knees recover soon! Donation by Steve & Linda Anelay 02/11/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

An amazing achievement! I hope you've booked several weeks off work to recover. Donation by Jen Hamerman, Alan and Alice 31/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Garry Smith 30/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

What an achievement - well done! Love from Stephen, Jane and Archie x Donation by Jane Boyd 29/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by stella broni 28/10/09  

£5,000.00

Best of luck Paul. I hope you achieve your target. See you soon.xxx Donation by Nina Dalili 27/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Sounds like an amazing experience, good on u...just like Fawress Guuump, u just keep on running! Donation by Caroline Brookes 22/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

We've turned Mandela into a spa and bar ready for when you return. You are a legend. Good luck! Donation by Ronalda, Rashnita, Fabiolita, Carlita and Minita 21/10/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Ed, they invented 4x4 cars and aeroplanes so that people didn't have to run like a lunatic across the Sahara. Very best of luck xxx Donation by Dips 20/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck mate, I think you're crazy - but run run run! Donation by Clare Greenhalgh 20/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

What an amazing challenge :) All the best Paul! Donation by Lorenza Casini 20/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck for the leisurely stroll!! Donation by Steven Parker 19/10/09  

Can't think of any words to match your deed - so good luck and bon voyage Donation by John Pinchard 19/10/09  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

Hope you've managed to pickle your feet!!!! Good Luck!!! from John and Liz Donation by Liz and John xxx 19/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Jog on love xx good luck!! hope to see you soon xx Donation by Carla DaCosta 16/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Rose Nierras 14/10/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

You are crazy! Good luck matey. We are thinking of you. Donation by Carwyn and Nicky 14/10/09  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

Don't eat any endangered animals please Paul. (But bring us back a pet snake.) Donation by Dan Clark 12/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Donna Jones 11/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Nice picture... Good luck dude. Donation by David Pickstone 11/10/09  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Hannah Green 09/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I'll quadruple it if you do it in a chicken outfit Donation by Pete Lyons 06/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

seriously impressed. good luck Donation by Mark Rolls 06/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

We wish you the very best of luck and look forward to reliving the experience over a beer or two when you return..if you can bear it. Donation by Niall and Emma Maher 06/10/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Run hard, run strong. Pain is all in the mind, and don't run bare foot Donation by Jan Cameron 05/10/09  

£20.00
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* Total raised online: £8,917.50
  Offline donations: £915.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £1,061.22

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