All those who know me well will already be aware of my somewhat sadistic tendency to take part in endurance sporting events. While I don’t expect my behaviour to change anytime soon, I have recently signed up to what I expect will be my greatest challenge: the 2018 Marathon des Sables (taking place on 8–13th April 2018).

Billed as the toughest foot-race in the world, the event is a six day 250km ultra-marathon set in the Sahara Desert, where temperatures often top 50 degrees. What have I let myself in for!? To make matters worse competitors self-navigate the route and are also required to carry all the food and equipment that they require for the six days.

I don’t normally ask for sponsorship for such events but, this being “the big one”, is an exception. I have therefore set myself the target of raising £6,000 for Maggie’s, a UK-based charity which provides emotional and social support for people with cancer.

Maggie’s operates 16 centres across the UK, all of which are located in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals. They offer a number of services outside those provided by the NHS; such support can greatly improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of the patient and their family. More details may be found here: www.maggiescentres.org

This charity means a lot to me as my mother was diagnosed with cancer in mid-2016, and having seen the support they provide I can attest to the wonderful work that they do.

Any financial sponsorship would not only be a welcome spur for me to keep training, but will also be a significant benefit to Maggie’s amazing work.

During the race, competitors are allowed to send one email of no more than 100 words each day. So as an added incentive (I hope), all those who wish will be added to a distribution list will receive a daily dispatch. I can’t promise that I will be even coherent after Day One but hopefully it will provide everyone with a flavour of this ludicrous testing event.

Many thanks for your support in advance: training begins tomorrow!