Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I will be taking on the challenge of completing the Marathon des Sables - 6 marathons over 5 days across the Sahara desert, carrying all my food, water and equipment for the duration. Temperatures are set to reach around 50 degrees + in the daytime, and below freezing over night, whilst I will be sleeping with minimal cover in the open desert. There will be risk of sandstorms, snakes, scorpions, spiders, sickness, heat exhaustion, foot blisters...etc, etc, and there is no doubt this will be the challenge of a lifetime for me that I have been preparing for since early 2020. (Further info: The Course - Marathon Des Sables)

During my preparation; at the end of 2021 my dad (Taffy) was sadly admitted to hospital with an infection. He spent over 2 months in Addenbrookes, and due to covid restrictions only one family member was allowed to visit.

Unfortunately due to his deterioration, my dad was transferred to Arthur Rank Hospice for end of life care. Thankfully with proof of C19 tests results, my sister and I were also able to visit. My dad was there only a few days, and was treated with compassion, care and dignity in an environment that was calm and comforting. This gave us the chance to say goodbye, which we will forever be grateful for.

For this experience, I want to dedicate this challenge to my dad and Arthur Rank Hospice. My challenge does not even compare to the level of resilience and strength ARH staff demonstrate every day. Also the same applies to my dad for his life as a professional horseracing jockey.

Any donations would be so appreciated, not only to help the hospice continue (they receive little in the way of government funding), but it will give me extra motivation and encouragement to keep running when I hit low patches. 

Thank you for reading about my challenge, and please do contact me or Arthur Rank Hospice (Home - Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (arhc.org.uk) if you would like further information.

Contact me: di_thomas123@yahoo.co.uk 07947 378578.

TRACK ME IN THE DESERT & SEND SUPPORT MESSAGES:

My race number is 1065
and I am Tent Number 99. 

LIVE TRACKING:

If you would like to 'go on my journey with me' - there will be an option to track my progress as I cross thedesert each day as I will be wearing a race official GPS. 

- Dot tracking is available from
the 23rd via: https://live.marathondessables.com/en/ (you can click
on the GB flag top right for English translation if necessary).

- Then click on the 'MDS Live' icon
on towards the top right.  

- Here you can then click on 'Live Geolocation via Spot Tags' or just search my number (1065) in the 'Search for Runner' box.

WRITE TO A RUNNER:

I have had such wonderful support already, but if you would like to keep me going by sending me e-mails that get printed off each day and passed on, you will need my race and tent number above. Simply click on the 'Write To A Runner' Icon that is at the top after going into 'MDS LIVE' - make sure my bib number and tent number are in the e-mail form, AND in the actual text/ message as well.

I am so grateful of the support around me - it has no doubt made training, restricting and fundraising much easier and I will be thinking of every single person who has helped, whilst I am in that desert.

I will do everything I can to stay safe and to enjoy the adventure and I look forward to catching up with you when I return - hopefully with a medal around my neck!