Marathon des Sables

We are running the 20^th Marathon des Sables (MdS) this April. The ‘sand marathon’ is a 6 day, 151 mile (243 km) endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara, terrain ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground. We have to be totally self sufficient, carrying all our own food, cooking and survival equipment etc (except a tent) needed for the race – only water is issued on a daily basis.

Temperatures regularly soar to 49°C plummeting to around 4°C at night. We will be running the equivalent of 5 ½ regular marathons, carrying about 22 pounds (10 kg) in convection oven temperatures. Perhaps that’s why it’s known as ‘the toughest footrace on earth’.

Last year, MdS 19, the daily stages were as follows:

• Day 1 - 17.4 miles (28 km)
• Day 2 - 21.1 miles (34 km)
• Day 3 - 23.0 miles (37 km)
• Day 4 - 47.1 miles (76 km)
• Day 6 - Full Marathon (42.2 km)
• Day 7 - 12.4 miles (20 km)

Day 5 is scheduled as a rest day, but most people are still running the 4^th stage!

Why are we running the Marathon des Sables?

Apart from being a long held ambition…..

we wanted to do something that would increase the awareness of a disease that each year attacks hundreds of thousands of young children. Mostly living in sub-Saharan Africa, they are those caught in a vicious circle of extreme poverty and chronic malnutrition.

NOMA (cancrum oris) is an acute devastating infection of the face. It is a disease that kills. Mortality is 90%.

The disease once ravaged Europe, but has disappeared simply because nutrition and hygiene has improved.

For those who survive, it maims horribly devouring the face indiscriminately, making drinking, smiling, being accepted by any community impossible. . Facing Africa – NOMA is a charity that is working to prevent and to treat sufferers. For £500 a sufferer can be given a new face - and a new life.

Cos you're a MAD MULLER

Before and after. What a difference £500 can make…

We really want to use the opportunity we have been given to challenge ourselves mentally and physically, to try and make a difference to the people of the area in which we will run.

To read more about Facing Africa, and to find out the latest about the charity use this link: Facing Africa.

If you would like to sponsor us then please use this link for an online donation form. Please could you mention our names (Melissa Marlow / Mark Daykin) in the comments box on the online form.

Any donation will be very gratefully received. Thank you.

Links

Darbaroud (race organisers)
MDS UK
Facing Africa