Simon takes on the toughest footrace on Earth in the Moroccan Sahara Desert!

Well, I‘m excited to say that I’ve managed to secure a place in the Marathon
Des Sables (MdS) 2019! In the month of April 2019, I’ll be arriving in the sweltering Saharan desert to complete this punishing multi-day ultra-marathon, whilst raising vital money and awareness for spinal cord injury (SCI) cure research charity,  Walkoncemore. This will be a punishing event, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge and hoping that you’ll all get behind me as I prepare for it!

The Marathon des Sables (MdS) is a six-day, 254 km (156 mile) ultra-marathon (and the equivalent to six regular marathons!), I will run cross numerous terrains, sand dunes, salt flats, mountains and rock. Just to make things that little bit more taxing, I will be traversing the course with my entire kit on my back, containing all of my food, cooking equipment, my sleeping bag, clothes, venom pump, flare, and every other essential supply required to survive this self sufficient race. I think it's safe to say that the MdS really might be the toughest footrace on Earth!

In the lead up to this event, I will also cover thousands of kilometres in training in order to prepare my body for the pain and suffering I will endure in temperatures well above 50 degrees.

All of this combined still doesn’t compare to how tough daily life is for millions of people around the World after falling victim to spinal cord injuries. Many of you will know my dad who had a cycling accident some years ago, where he fell over the handlebars and creased his spinal cord and is now a quadriplegic and will spend the rest of his life in a special bed, he hasn't walked in years and never will again. It is with my dad in mind that I am aiming to raise as much money and awareness as possible towards a cure for this debilitating condition.

In an instant, a paralysing spinal cord injury robs the victim and their loved ones of so much. As things stand, once a person suffers damage to their spinal cord, it is
almost always permanent and the individual is usually left having to live with severe disability through paralysis. The research that Walkoncemore supports will make this a thing of the past before long. New and old injuries will become temporary, allowing the person affected to regain full mobility. Funds raised will go only to the brightest minds in the field who are working tirelessly to make this happen as soon as possible.

Any one of us can be affected at any time by this catastrophic injury, so
you could say that the work of the charity is a bit of an insurance policy for
us all. With that in mind, please dig deep! Every little bit really does help,
and will propel me round this difficult course. I am looking to raise a minimum
of £6,000, but I may even exceed this with your kindness and generosity!

So, I'm running the toughest footrace on the planet on behalf of my dad and together we will make a difference towards the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters around the world impacted by spinal cord injuries in the future. Please, help us do this?

We really appreciate your support, thanks a million everyone!

Simon and his dad Ernie x

Update July 2018 - My Dad Ernie passed away on 24th July 2018, peacefully in his sleep, he may not be with me physically to watch me run but he will be with me in spirit in April 2019 in Morocco and ill run with his memory in my heart and together we will achieve our aim of fundraising and reaching our target for Walkoncemore. RIP Dad x

You can either donate online at the top of the page or via text.(details of text are below)

Just Text Giving is an optional way of donating very easily. All you have to do is Text 70070 and in the text box write ERNI80 £'amount' then send.