'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away'
 
In April 2006 a crack team of fearless highly tuned and toned to perfection athletes will escape from a maximum security institute for the athletically insane into the Sahara desert and set out on a mission they have chosen to accept.... to boldly go where other completely crackers professional athletes have just about made it before, with the aim of crawling over the finish line still breathing and most limbs intact.... if you have a penny, if you have no one else to help and if you're on email then maybe you can help The Mencap Team...
 
The Marathon de Sables is known as the toughest footrace on earth, covering over 150 miles 7 days in conditions ranging from sand dunes to rocky dried riverbeds, 50-degree heat to sand storms. This is not let's cycle round India for fun and get it paid for with charity cash, on this one they come in and slice our blisters off with razor blades and grown men are reduced to blubbering wrecks and we invest a lot of our own cash and we give all yours to charity. It takes place in the far south of the Moroccan Sahara and it's going to be hot, dusty, and grim - with 10kg backpacks.
 
Have we lost the plot? Or is there a reason for this stupidity? 2006 marks the 60th year anniversary of MENCAP and we are part of the 15 strong team doing the race to commemorate that fact.
 
Our crack/crap team of athletes consists of:
 
Late Night Kate Spicer ­  freelance journalist with multiple personality issues, flits between triathlons and disappearing for several days on mysterious 'assignments'. Has a body like a highly trained journalist.
 
Jonny Lee Miller - one of the UK's leading male actors, some might say reluctant heart throb too. Runs marathons fast and for fun, he can map read his way through a Devon bog like a pro and has a body like a highly trained whippet
 
Emma Sayle - Professional life is classified and X-rated. Runs like giraffe.
So leggy and blonde no one believes she is able of coherent thought.
Actually kwite cleva.
 
Andy Quinn - Retired freelance astronaut. Currently growing his hair so that, like Rapunzel, someone can rescue him from Canary Wharf. Last to join the team and most likely last over the finish line. Has a body like a Staffordshire bullterrier.
 
Please take a moment to think about the enormity of this race for us, alternatively, give us all your money.
 
Thank you. The Crack Team, or is that team on crack. Emma, Jonny, Andy and Kate