Yikes! 

In just under 6 weeks I will be taking part in the 33rd Marathon des Sables in Morocco.  I am both excited and overwhelmed (in about equal measures) by the challenge ahead of me.  The Marathon des Sables consists of six marathons over six days (approx. 250km) in the soaring heat of the Sahara.  It is a self supporting event which means that I will have to carry all my food and equipment for the week and camp out each night.  So that will be an interesting introduction to camping for me.

I started the MDS as a challenge to myself.  A sports car apparently was not the fix for my mid life crisis.  And so with the words of Brigit Jones ("How hard can it be?") ringing in my ears I started training for the event.  Well Brigit, 12 months down the line, I can tell you it's a little harder than I first thought.  I am still hopeful that my inner Forest Gump is yet to emerge.  However, throughout my training I have been inspired by an amazing young person called Hannah Francis.  Hannah was a talented young event rider who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer, Osteosarcoma, at the age of 17.  She sadly died 17 months later.  What she achieved in that time is truly remarkable.  

Instead of taking her diagnosis as a set back she became determined to help others in a similar situation to herself in a variety of ways.  In March 2016 she set up a charity called Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony, named after a small cuddly toy she was given when she was first diagnosed and which has become a well recognised mascot for the charity.  The purpose of the charity is to raise vital funds for research into Osteosarcoma research, a relatively uncommon cancer, and also grant equine related wishes to seriously ill people and their families.  Within 17 months, the charity had raised its first £1million and is set to continue at this pace.  

More details of the charity can be found at http://www.willberrywonderpony.org  BBC's Britstol's video also tells Hannah's story far better than I can.  www.facebook.com/bbcradiobristol/videos/1259339247456512 

I very much want to support Hannah's charity and would be extremely grateful if you could support me in doing so.  Every single penny will go directly to Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony