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Due to the postponement of the 2020 race due to the Coronavirus pandemic, on October 1st 2021, I will be flying out to the Sahara Desert to compete, for the second time since 2017, in the Marathon des Sables. This event, widely regarded as "The Toughest Footrace on Earth", entails running 256 kilometres (six marathons) in five days, across some of most inhospitable terrain in the world.

Daytime temperatures average over 50 degrees centigrade, and on day 3 of the event in 2017, midday temperature on the mountain stage was recorded at 66 degrees centigrade ! Overnight temperatures regularly drop below freezing.

Competitors are self-sufficient throughout the race stages, meaning that they have to carry their food supplies and equipment for the entire week. Water supplies are rationed, and the issue of any additional water, for whatever reason, incurs time penalties.

I will be raising funds for the 'Wings for Life' organisation, founded by the owner of Red Bull, whose non-profit making activities fund major research projects into spinal cord injuries. This has a personal relevance to me following the life-changing injuries sustained by Ben Tansley in August 2017, and the inspirational manner in which he has approached life since the accident.

Any donation, however large or small, will be greatly appreciated, and every penny raised will contribute to on-going research into the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Marathon des Sables, the link below will provide a very detailed summary of the event.

https://marathondessables.co.uk/

As always, I will leave you with my lifetime motto:

"Only those who will risk going too far, will ever know how far they can go". T.S. Elliot (1931)

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