Story
Our Challenge
So somehow my dad has convinced me to run not one but two ultramarathons in 2026. Yes, two. First, the 2 day 110km Rwanda Ultra X in January, then the Legendary Marathon des Sables in April, which basically entails running across the Sahara desert with a backpack while your shoes melt and you question every life decision you have ever made. The 2026 edition covers 270 kilometres, including a 100 kilometre long stage on day 4, making it the toughest Marathon des Sables in history.
Dad calls all this “quality father–daughter bonding time”. I call it “child endangerment by fitness”. But secretly, I love that we are doing something this ridiculous together. And if we are going to put ourselves through this, it has to be for a cause that genuinely matters.
So, on a serious note, we are hoping to raise awareness and funds for a charity that is very close to our hearts - Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
Gaza has slipped from the headlines, but the crisis has not ended. The destruction of the last two years has left families without working hospitals, medicines or safe shelter. According to UNICEF, more than 64,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Gaza now has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world, a devastating reminder of the scale of the violence and the long term needs that lie ahead.
The actions of the Israeli government have created a humanitarian emergency that continues every single day. There is an acute need for medical equipment and treatment to prevent the pain and suffering that people are experiencing right now.
Medical Aid for Palestinians is one of the few organisations still able to deliver real medical care inside Gaza. They provide emergency treatment, surgical equipment, prosthetics, essential supplies and support for long term recovery. Their teams are saving lives every day in the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Every donation goes directly into vital work on the ground.
Thank You
Thank you for reading, for caring and for supporting MAP. Your donation, in any amount, genuinely saves lives. And knowing that people are behind us will give us strength during the hardest moments of these races.
Love Maia and Joe xx