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In January last year I was asked by my niece if I wanted to take part in the MDS in April 2017.  My initial reaction was it's crazy and only for 'mad people' and I've not run over 5km for years! However being someone who always likes a challenge and being blessed that physically I am still able to give it a go I decided to do exactly that. 

The Marathon Des Sables is a gruelling 6 day ultra Marathon covering a total of 250km in the most inhospitable environment on the planet, the Sahara desert. In 6 days along with 1200 others I"ll complete almost 6 marathons over challenging terrain including salt pans, dried river beds, miles of sand dunes (some reaching over 1000 metres in height ) and Jebels - the Moroccan for mountains. Along the way I'll contend with temperatures exceeding 40degrees and the occasional sandstorm. The MDS is self sufficient meaning that for the entire 7 days - there is a 1 day charity stage at the end- I must carry everything I need for the week except water. The 6 stages are not broken down equally - the first stage may only be 20 miles or so, whilst the fourth stage is the infamous 'big one" equating to a double Marathon averaging 50 miles or so. A short taster of the event can be seen by googling Marathon Des Sables teaser 2017.

I am not taking this lightly. Since signing up I have done more mileage running than my car has driven,  gone through 4 pairs of trainers and completed a couple of multi stage ultras including 84 miles along the Ridgeway and 66 along the North Downs.

The Cause

The charity I am running for is Bloodwise (formally Leukaemia and Lymphoma research). Bloodwise supports and funds research into bloods cancers (leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma) and other blood disorders, with the aim or eradicating this group of diseases forever.

It is a cause close to me personally having witnessed close friends and relatives battling these diseases. I have also seen the great work this charity does in terms of new developments and drugs that help in the treatment of these diseases. 

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