About the Marathon Des Sables
"The toughest foot race on earth" - The MdS is a 6 day / 230km ultra marathon race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, taking place between the 7th and 18th April 2005.
During this time the competitors have to carry all food, cooking equipment, survival equipment, etc over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures up to 120°F. This is not a race for the faint hearted - as well as the physical exhaustion and searing temperatures the sand adds to the injury making competitors who finish with all the skin left on their feet a rarity.
Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables
What started off as some friendly banter with Simon Whitton (a fellow MdS competitor) has turned into the most demanding physical activity I will ever take part in.
It will definitely be a challenge - one of finishing the race and of survival.
I am running the MdS to raise money for charity: The Dystonia Society and Médecins Sans Frontières.
The Dystonia Society
The Dystonia Society supports those suffering from dystonia. Dystonia is the term used to describe a condition dominated by involuntary sustained muscle spasms which can affect various parts of the body and cause abnormal movements and postures. It is usually extremely painful for those suffering from the condition. The Dystonia Society provides a unique and valuable information and support service assisting from first diagnosis to coping with the condition on a daily basis. My mother suffers from this condition and so this charity strikes a personal chord with me.
Médecins Sans Frontières
MSF is an independent international humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 80 countries regardless of race, religion, politics or sex. In carrying out humanitarian assistance, MSF also seeks to raise awareness of crisis situations. In doing so, MSF sets out to alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to restore and ensure respect for the human beings and their fundamental human rights.
How you can help!
To donate money please either send a cheque to "John Grey MDS Charity Race", transfer money to the account below, contact me on my email address or to donate to Médecins Sans Frontières directly go to www.justgiving.com/greymarathon.
My email address: john.grey@edftrading.com.
Address for cheques: John Grey, 5th Floor, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ED.
John Grey MDS Charity Race: Account Number: 0842198 Sort Code: 30-94-25.
Links
- www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS
- www.dystonia.org.uk - The Dystonia Society
- www.msf.org - Médecins Sans Frontières
- www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS