As you will know if you have got this far, this year il be taking part in the Marathon Des Sables in aid of ECHO.

Described as the "Toughest Foot Race on Earth" it covers ~243km or 151 miles over 7 days in the Sahara desert. Not only will I have to cover the distance in 30-50 deg C heat but also have to carry everything I need (apart from a tent) which weighs about ~13kg. Understandably it has a high drop-out rate from 10% up to 50%! The terrain will take me over barren wilderness including many sand dunes and some parts of the Atlas mountains. The route remains a secret until the start but the format remains similar to previous years, with the first 3 days each covering 20-25miles, the 4th day covering 50-55miles (double marathon), the 5th day a rest day (or still running from day 4), the 6th day a full 26mile marathon, finishing on the 7th day with a mere 10-15miles. Although the course remains a secret, they have released that this year that as a treat, dunes will feature in every single stage Blisters, heat stroke, exhaustion and getting lost are all risks that I and 900 other loons will be taking on in just over 2months time.

This year though, I am very lucky in being able to take the opportunity to raise some money for a very very worthy cause. Introduced to me by a close friend, Gemma, who many of you know, Evelina Children's Heart Organisation is a charity that supports children who are treated at the Evelina Children's hospital (within St Thomas's), principally for Congenital Heart Defects, as well as their parents, carers and close families. The charity provides information, practical support, volunteers who visit parents whilst staying on the wards, and provides toys, facilities and small items of medical equipment for the Cardiac Ward at the hospital. One child in every 125 liveborn babies has a congenital heart defect, with the majority of defects not detected prior to birth.

Gemma and Darren discovered that their unborn baby had congenital heart disease after they were referred from their local hospital at their 20 week scan to the Evelina Children’s Hopsital at St Thomas’. It was devastating news for them but through the amazing support of the team at Evelina and the ECHO Foundation they were prepared for the birth and the future with Rosie, who was born on 1st March.

If you are able to sponsor me in any way at all, it would be greatly appreciated.

To find out more about the MDS or ECHO, please follow the links below, or feel free to ask me.

http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php

http://www.echo-evelina.org.uk/