Thank you for visiting my Mercy Ships fundraising page.

I successfully finished this year's (24th) Marathon des Sables or MdS. The weather changed the route due to torrential rain and so 2 days were cancelled but we did have the longest stage they've ever put on! It was plenty tough enough for me, still over 130 miles of Sahara desert in Morocco. I came 548 overall of 770 finishers and 36 abandonees. My average pace was 4.8 km/h - not fast as I was mostly walking - I found the heat and weight of the rucksack too much to run very far.  You can get more information about the MdS at saharamarathon.co.uk and darbaroud.com. There are some videos on youtube, just search for Marathon Des Sables (2009). You can see more pictures of me at  http://www.gormodo.com/mds/MDS.mht 

Thank you very much for your sponsorship money

for Mercy Ships and Communicare.

Mercy Ships is an international Christian charity providing free surgery in Africa from the hospital ship Africa Mercy. I’ve been fortunate to go and work for them on several occasions in the last 5 years as an anaesthetist, whilst the ship was docked in Sierra Leone and then Liberia. Like the official MdS charity Facing Africa which helps treat sufferers of Noma, Mercy Ships offers life changing surgery for noma (cancrum oris) and other conditions (see left) for which there are no or insufficient local resources.

Communicare is a Southampton charity who provide practical and emotional support to needy people in Shirley and neighbouring areas, run by volunteers from the local churches to help those in need.. They visit lonely, housebound elderly folk; help mothers with babies and young children and provide transport for hospital and other appointments.

It is still possible to donate for another few weeks. Please note donations on this webpage can only be directed to Mercy Ships. It’s easy, secure and efficient (taxpayers can Gift Aid giving the charity an extra 25%). If you would like to donate to Communicare instead / as well please visit http://www.justgiving.co.uk/drsjenkins2