Running marathon de sable for Hope’s story

I am taking on the gruelling challenge of running The Marathon de sables. I will be running 252 km over 7 days across the Sahara desert. I will be fully food and equipment self sufficient, so will have to carry 12-15 kg backpack while running across sand dunes and rocky terrain. The heat will be cold during the night and late twenties to 50 degrees during the day. The course is split into stages ( once you leave the camp you’ve slept in ) you have to get to the next tented camp that’s been set up in a certain time split otherwise you’re out of the race. You only get water every 10 km on the course. One stage is over 2 days so will be going through the night at some point which is about 65 miles non stop. Sound appealing?

What will push me through this mammoth challenge is to know that I am raising money for a remarkable young family friend who has relentlessly been fighting cancer for the last 10 years of her adult life. Hope Joy Pearce (previously Stringer) is only 32 years old and has raised awareness, helped others through fundraising and blogging her daily experiences in an open, and painfully heartfelt diary whilst personally battling round after round of operations and illness, whilst being subjected to earth shattering, undeserved and unwelcome results. Hope is currently having to live in the US with her husband, away from her family and her friends as she receives her life saving treatment but this all comes at an astronomical cost. Hospital bills and living costs are now a matter of support from generous fundraisers. Any donation or support in sharing Hope’s courageous story of determination, grit and fight are truly, heartfelt & appreciated.