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<p><span style="color: #000000;">In March 2011, as part of the Official Mencap Race Team, I will be taking<br />part in the MARATHON DES SABLES</span></p>
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<p><br />The 'Sand Marathon' is regarded as the toughest foot race on earth. Not<br />only is the race undertaken in excess of 30 degree temperatures in the<br />Sahara desert, but each competitor has to carry all their own food and<br />equipment for the duration of the race. Add to this the possibility of<br />running into snakes (a venom removal pump is a piece of compulsory<br />equipment), camel spiders (larger than a dinner plate) and sand storms, as well as the certainty of blisters the size of camel spiders (which again, are the size of dinner plates) and you start to get the picture of what a fantastic experience this is going to be.</p>
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<p>that you be generous in supoprt of their bravery and sprit (and not just to point and laugh) and donate to the selected charity - Mencap (<a href="http://www.mencap.org.uk">www.mencap.org.uk</a>). All money donated will be used to directly support Mencaps activities in p<span style="font-family: FSMencap;"><span style="font-family: FSMencap;"><span style="color: #000000;">roviding high-quality, flexible services in </span><span style="color: #000000;">things like housing, employment, education </span><span style="color: #000000;">and personal support that allow people with Learning Disabilities to </span><span style="color: #000000;">live as independently as possible. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Thanks for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page... I really really appreciate all of your help and attention.</span></p>
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<p><br />To itinery for the race is something like this:<br />Day 1 - 15 Miles - Warm up day ;)<br />Day 2 - 23.1 Miles -<br />Day 3 - 22.5 MIles - Up and down the sand Dunes day<br />Day 4 - 47.5 MIles - Day and Night Stage<br />Day 5 - Rest day - After running throughout the night<br />Day 6 - 26.2 MIles - Marathon stage day<br />Day 7 - 8.7 Miles - Little jog to finish things off<br />Total of 143 Miles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />To take part in the race each team member has to raise £9,500. As there is also a fee that is being levied to take part on top of this - most of the money raised goes directly to Mencap (www.mencap.org.uk). The money will be used to directly support Mencaps activities in providing high-quality, flexible services in things like housing, employment, education and personal support that allow people with Learning Disabilities to live as independently as possible.</p>
<p><br />Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page... I really really<br />appreciate all of your help and attention.</p>
<p><br />Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your<br />details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send<br />unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to thecharity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by aUK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more,<br />whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
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