Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Last June, I thought I'd set myself a little challenge to get a bit fitter and possibly raise some money for charity... this rapidly spiralled out of control and I now find myself but weeks away from competing in the 'toughest footrace on Earth', the Marathon Des Sables in Morocco...!

The MDS is a 6-day, 250km ultra-marathon through the Sahara Desert. This is a self-sufficient race so I'll be carrying almost everything I need with me including food, sleeping kit and emergency gear. Support is at hand with a medical team, water checkpoints and a Berber camp each night. Apparently they also chase you with camels!

So, to get through this I will need some serious motivation. On that note I will be raising funds for MND Scotland in memory of my granddad, Charlie Pirie, and my beloved Aunty Joy. 

Motor Neuron Disease (also known as ALS) is a cruel, debilitating terminal illness. Diagnosis leads to a frightening and unpredictable journey for both the patient and family. Having lost two close family members to this condition, I know only too well how critical it is to fight this disease. 

While I've chosen to support MND Scotland, the funds raised will also go towards central MND research. This will aid all victims of this devastating disease and hopefully one day we will have the ability to greatly extend the length and quality of life of those diagnosed with MND.

As you'll see at the top I will also be running in memory of my granddad, David Bell, who suffered with Parkinson's Disease for many years before passing away in 2009. While my main fundraising target is for MND, I will be making a personal donation to the Parkinson's Foundation UK in his memory. 

I will donate the equivalent of 20 percent of the funds I raise for MND. Hopefully you can see where this is going!! The more you help me raise for MND, the more goes towards Parkinson's, and the more pain for me!

I've added some pics of training and  a couple of gruelling events I've done so far. What I really need though is the knowledge that I have your support and the memory of Joy and my two granddads, as I drag my sorry carcass through the burning sands!

Anything you can donate would be very much appreciated.

Event dates are from the 8th to 13th of April, 2018. More info on how you can track my progress and also send me messages during the race will follow.