The Marathon des Sables is a 6 day, 150 mile endurance race across the Moroccon Sahara.  This year is the 25th running of the event and it is dubbed "The Toughest Footrace on Earth".  Competitors must carry eveything for the duration of the event on their backs, including food.  The organisers kindly provide a tent and water at the end of each day.  I am told that the midday temperatures can reach 40 degrees celsius and only the lucky survive without blisters.  All in all it sounds like the perfect way to spend Easter.

I'm fortunate not to have a special reason to pick a particular charity so I decided to choose one which targeted children in this country.  Action for Children supports and speaks out for the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people in the UK.  It's been around for 140 years which I think speaks for itself.  I should mention that all of your donation will be going to Action for Children and not paying for my place.

As well as running for a worthy cause, I will be part of the Eurosport team, who each year provide the media coverage for the event.  Your support will provide me with the much needed motivation when I start asking the question "why am I doing this...?"  There's no easy answer as to why someone would want to subject themselves to six days of unrelenting discomfort and pain in a desert, suffice to say, I like running and the odd challenge here and there.

Thanks!