After much encouragement I have decided to open a Just Giving page for the latest act of stupidity to come from Lawsies Towers.

My son Marcus (17) and I are going to do the Marathon Des sables (MDS) at the end of March 2022. This is a 250km foot race in 6 days across the Western Sahara Desert carrying all our own kit. Temperatures will average 45C plus each day., it's going to be tough.

The race is the equivalent of 6 marathons in 6 days. Days 4 & 5 is the 54 mile stage in less than 36 hours. I attempted this event in 2007 but failed on day 4 so with this in mind and having had some reasonably serious surgeries over the last 18 months (one of them as an emergency in the Middle East) I decided to complete this unfinished business before I get older and more decrepit!

Our aim is to finish this race and not care a hoot about position or time - well, that's my plan anyway!

Money raised will be split equally between three charities - Dogs Trust, Brysons Animal Shelter and Young Minds Mental Health. These charities were chosen by myself and Marcus with the input of some good friends who have massively supported us in this adventure.

We have totally self funded the trip (nearly £10k) so all of the money raised will go to the nominated charities.

Please donate what you can for these tremendous charities and wish us luck in this latest adventure (though sadly probably not the last - much to the dismay of Marcus' mum!).