In 2022 I just about completed the London Marathon with a time of 5 hours and 51 minutes. Over 2 of those hours were spent with St John’s Ambulance at mile 23. So, I thought the only logical step for my next ‘challenge’ was to enter the Marathon des Sables this April 2024, deemed by many as the ‘toughest foot race on earth'.

The Marathon des Sables is a 7-day multi-stage event covering c.250km across the Sahara Desert. Each competitor must be completely self-sufficient, meaning you carry everything you need for the 7 days - food, clothes, sleeping bag etc.

This will be by far the most difficult challenge I have ever attempted, which will push me physically but even more so mentally. Whilst this is undoubtedly a personal challenge and a race I have wanted to take part in for as long as I can remember, it is equally a perfect opportunity to raise money for a brilliant charity - Home-Start Wandsworth (https://www.homestartwandsworth.org.uk/).

Home-Start works alongside vulnerable and isolated families to help them through the hardest of times and prevent them from slipping further into crisis. Their staff and trained volunteers ensure the parents have the skills, confidence and strength they need to nurture their children to give them the best possible start in life. Now more than ever, the pressures facing families are growing. Poverty, mental illness and social isolation have all been made worse by the pandemic, a severe shortage of social housing, and the cost-of-living crisis.

I have experienced firsthand, through my mum (Sarah’s) work with the charity, the positive impact Home-Start has in improving the quality of many families’ lives across the borough. However, for Home-Start to continue making such a positive difference to these families, they need donations from generous people like you.

Fortunately, I will be running the MDS with a very good friend, Jono Jamieson-Black, who is running the race in memory of his Dad, John. Please visit his page too and donate to his incredible cause!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/jono-jamieson-black-mds2024

I'll be thinking about you all whilst crawling across the Sahara, and hopefully I’ll be finishing this race with a slightly more respectable time.

Thanks,

Fred