On 21st April, I will be taking part in the toughest foot race on Earth, the Marathon des Sables. I will be running 156 miles in the middle of the Sahara Desert over 6 days. 

This is not a challenge to be taken lightly and I have prepared well for the event, both physically and mentally. 

I have chosen to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity in memory of my grandfather Jim (Ivor) Pook who was a Royal Marine. It inspires me when I think of his many lives, starting in a working-class family in Southampton, graduating from Cambridge, serving in 40 Commando of the Royal Marines, mapping parts of Uganda as a Chartered Surveyor, running a dairy farm in Dorset and giving spine-crushing hugs and extremely dangerous gifts (machetes, knives, bayonets, spears, axes) to grandchildren. His life tells a story of determination, physicality, irreverence, acerbic wit and intellect that I admire increasingly as I live out my slightly less colourful life. 

When he passed away, the Royal Marines sent a bugler to play the Last Post at his funeral, an honour which I believe all former marines are entitled to, and one that I found particularly touching. This service is in part provided by the Royal Marines Charity.

The Royal Marines Charity exists to help the entire Royal Marines family. Offering a range of services to both serving, veterans and their families. 

For information about what they do please access their website:

https://rma-trmc.org/

Track me here:

https://live.marathondessables.com/en/