In an endeavour to tackle my mid-life crisis whilst doing some good I’ve decided to raise money for Notting Hill’s Fast Forward appeal by running the 2008 Marathon des Sables.
  

The run will hopefully help to transform the lives of many young people who are stuck in hostels and temporary accommodation with no chance of moving forward with their lives because there is no housing available for them. 

The Marathon des Sables, or Marathon of the Sands, is a six-day, 254km (156 miles) endurance race, run across the Sahara desert in southern Morocco in April when the Sahara gets seriously hot, up to 50 degrees Celsius. We have to trudge over sand dunes and carry our food and supplies on our backs, for the duration of the race, which is the equivalent of six regular marathons.
  

You can give as much or as little as you want. But you have to give something to help motivate me as I stagger across the Sahara. There'll be times when I'll wonder why the hell I’m doing this, but knowing that the money I’m raising will transform the lives of many young people will keep me going.
  

The money raised by the Fast Forward appeal will be used to refurbish 20 flats. Every five years, each flat will give one young person the secure foundation they need to rebuild their lives. Five years on, it will help another person, and another, and another… 

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Notting Hill Housing Trust 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 sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

Jonathan

For more information on the Fast Forward project go to www.nottinghillhousing.org.uk/fastforward

For more information on the Marathon des Sables go to www.saharamarathon.co.uk