*** It would really help me if you read the thank you email, there is a link in there to register for my book as chapters are completed and regular updates***

I want to do something BIG for my 50th! I also want to give back to my military family, do something meaningful, to help those who have served our great country and now need our help.

On the 25th of March 2022, I will be leaving London to participate in the 36th Marathon des Sables.

MdS is a foot race in the Sahara Desert; I will be running (and no doubt walking some) over 250km in seven days, carrying all the equipment I need in temperatures that could be over 50 degrees Celcius. For fun.

As if I don't have enough to do with all the training, I'm also going to write a book; "Couch to MDS....".

It will be the story of how an overweight, verging on an alcoholic, middle-aged, average guy, found the inspiration to turn his life around. I'll be writing about my mid-life crisis, the mental health challenges I have overcome, and how exercise has helped me to get off the couch and run what is acclaimed to be "The Toughest Foot Race on Earth". And also WHY I'm doing this!

I'm very proud to be raising funds for Walking With The Wounded, a charity that recognise the inherent skills of our armed service personnel and want to complement these qualities, as well as provide support to transfer their skills into the civilian workplace. They offer assistance through their programmes to those vulnerable veterans who have been physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged by their service and assist them in sustaining their independence through new sustainable careers outside of the military.

I want to keep you involved throughout my journey.

I want to give you something for helping me to help Walking With The Wounded.

As a special thank you, in addition to a regular newsletter telling you about my progress, I will be releasing chapters of my book to everyone who donates; as they are written.

Thank you very much for reading my story, please dig deep for this charity, which is very important to me.