For those who do not know me, my name is Alfie McIntosh. I am a 27-year-old Bristol based Family Lawyer and an endurance sport enthusiast.

By way of context, 912 is the number of people recorded as sleeping rough in Bristol in 2023. This figure sits at the heart of why I am reaching out.

For the last decade, I have invested countless hours in pursuit of becoming the best athlete I can be. I live by my mantra to ‘do more’ and I have come to embrace the concept of chosen suffering – the type 2 fun that we all hate in the moment but get a great sense of satisfaction afterwards. Whether it is in the hills of Wales, the mountains of the Alps or the back garden of Dartmoor close to where I grew up in Devon, my weekends are spent in the outdoors adventuring.

This April, I am undertaking my biggest challenge to date – the Marathon des Sables Legendry 40th edition. Not known to many, the MdS is dubbed as the toughest footrace on earth. The race takes place in the Sahara desert across 6 days/stages where competitors must run the total distance of 280km - self-supported. This means carrying your own clothes, food, cooking equipment, sleeping systems and any other items that might help get you through. Oh, and it's going to be really hot!

Alongside my aim to be competitive at the MdS, I am looking to spread awareness and raise money for Bristol-based homeless charity, the Julian Trust. The work that they complete does not fall short of being exceptional. The Julian Trust prides itself with offering a warm welcome to anyone as well as providing food, overnight accommodation and support to those who are homeless or at risk. It is a privilege to suffer and while I choose to endure hardship in sport, many of those supported by the Julian Trust do not have that privilege, facing daily challenges simply to survive.

The Julian Trust currently costs £3,000 per week to run and so it’s my aim to raise enough money to ensure that at least 1 week in 2026 is covered. If you feel able and willing, please consider donating to the Julain Trust as all donations go an extremely long way. The Julian Trust also welcomes donations by way of food, clothing, time and your skills. Their website can be found here:- https://www.juliantrust.org.uk/about

Information about how to track me during the race will follow on my Instagram alfiemcintosh.ultra - https://www.instagram.com/alfiemcintosh.ultra/

do more ⛰️