**UPDATE**

And we’re off… If you would like to follow our progress or send a message (which we will get as a printout in the evenings), you can do this on the MDS Live Website. Our runner numbers are: Marcus (701) and Rob (706).

In preparation for the desert, last week we had the privilege of speaking to Brian Wood MC to get his insights on resilience and overcoming challenges - some helpful tips! You can watch the talk here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BOIWxnrk3mI&feature=youtu.be

Who We Are

We are two school friends who, in December 2018, decided to embark on a new challenge together - The Marathon des Sables 'MdS'. Little did we know that it would take almost 4 years just to get to the start line but we'll finally be heading out to the desert in a few days on the 25th March.

We both work in finance but before the world of banking, Rob served for 6 years as a Rifleman, which included two tours of Afghanistan (2009 and 2013). 

We are running to support two incredible charities that help former servicemen and women - Walking With The Wounded and Veterans Aid. Both of these charities provide vital help to Veterans that have served and deserve our help. We have experienced first hand the crucial work that they do.

The Challenge

The MdS is known as "The Toughest Footrace on Earth" and involves completing six marathons in six days across the Sahara Desert, covering over 250km in temperatures rising to 50 degrees Celsius.

The rules require you to be self-sufficient, carrying your own food, water and equipment on your back, sleeping on the desert floor each night in traditional Berber tents. 

The environment is one of the world’s most inhospitable, with endless sand dunes rising hundreds of meters out of the desert, rocky jebels and white-hot salt plains. 

The long stage has become a legend in itself, setting-off in the Saharan morning, running into the dusk and then the dark. Many won’t finish the 80+km (52 miles) until well into the next day. 

Watch a short video about the MdS

The Charities

All of the money that we raise will be split evenly between the following two charities:

Walking with the Wounded ‘WWTW’

Established in 2010, WWTW is a leading military charity that helps those who have served and are struggling since leaving the military. Whether mentally wounded, socially wounded or physically wounded, our veterans deserve the care, support and means they and their families need to function in society. Watch a short video about WWTW

Veterans Aid ‘VA’

Established in 1932, VA provides immediate, practical support to ex-servicemen and women in crisis - regardless of age, ethnicity, rank gender or length of service. Prevention is at the heart of what the charity does with a significant focus on homelessness The endgame is always to enable sustainable, independent living, but the interventions necessary to achieve this can involve days, weeks, months – or even years of investment.