SHORT READ

- After running the 35th Edition in October 2021, I quickly signed-up to the 36th Edition of MDS (250km race across the Sahara desert self-sufficient across 6 days) for a personal challenge and charity. 

- I also intend to run the London Marathon after several false starts and aim to run a PB and a sub-3 to get that monkey off my back!

- Aim to raise >£10k for East Anglian Air Ambulance who were part of a team that saved my brother's life.. My family (and many other families) have much to thank them for.

What have I signed-up for?

I am running the 36th Edition of Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) and London 2022 for a charity that not only helped my brother but relies heavily on community and charitable funding. MDS is dubbed "the toughest footrace on earth" and I personally found that out in October 2021 running the 35th Edition!

The event is a 250KM self-sufficient foot race across the Sahara desert across 5 days of running with a Charity “fun run’ of ~10km thrown in on the 7th day. It seems manageable unti you hear about the "long day" on day 4 when we will be aiming to run/walk 2 marathons non-stop! Self-sufficient means I will have to take my own food, sleeping bag and some mandatory items including anti-venom pumps!

Why specifically MdS?

I got the bug for running back in 2013 when I started to train for my first marathon. Back then I saw James Cracknell's Discovery Channel video on his preparation for MdS and I said to myself, one day if I'm lucky, healthy and fit enough, I want to be on that start line with an ambitious aim of finishing it. Multiple marathons, several halfs, 10k runs and many park runs later, I have finally found the courage and time to do this and I want to make it more than just a personal ambition but also the chance to raise money for a fantastic much needed cause.

Why am I doing this?

March 2022 will be the the 7th anniversary of my brother’s near fatal car accident. My brother was on his way to work in dense fog and was in a head-on collision with another vehicle. He was in a coma for 3 weeks and had to have multiple operations to get him back on his feet. He suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and several broken bones, however he has made an amazing recovery and is able to work and drive and have a relatively normal life with little or no obvious signs to those that have not met him before. That event was life-changing not only for him but for our family.

There were many parties and individuals that helped along the way to his recovery, one played a crucial part ensuring the time spent travelling from the accident site to Addenbroke’s ICU unit was kept to a minimum, which is where my fundraising comes in.

Who is it I am raising money for?

East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) receives no regular government funding and relies entirely on the support of the community.The crews are tasked an average of 8 times a day across the two bases, with each mission costing in the region of £3,500. They can reach anywhere in the region within 25 minutes when every second can make the difference to a patient in their time of need.

PLEASE DONATE

If you are willing and able, please donate as no amount is too small. Myself, my brother, my family and the EAAA will be truly grateful for your donation.

Thank you so much!