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The Marathon Des Sables

Stefan Lisowski

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About the Marathon Des Sables

The Marathon des Sables (MdS) is an annual 6 day, 230km/143miles endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

For these six days, like every other competitor, I will need to carry everything: all my own food and water, survival kit, even a pan and stove for cooking. And all this across a baking desert and broken ground.

Myself

Until ten years ago, I was four stone overweight and a beer-swilling couch potato, and I decided to change my evil ways. It's been a long, hard slog and it started with gentle running until a marathon no longer meant a peanut-encrusted chocolate bar.

And now, ten years on, the extra weight has long since disappeared, and - despite being 47 years old - I've never felt better. I completed the Ambition Events coastal run in July this year, and am looking forward to greater challenges.

Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables

Well, I still have the bug, and wouldn't have it any other way. I've continued to push myself and enjoy the head game I'll need to get across the Sahara as much as I'm looking forward to the physical challenge, however there are two charities which are very dear to my heart:

'Amnesty International' and their long-standing and often courageous campaigns to release political prisoners around the world. The sponsor information for Amnesty international is at Just Giving or E-Mail fundraise@amnesty.org.uk .

'The Dogs Trust', the UK's largest dog welfare charity who do excellent work in outreach programs and education. They re-home dogs, and are a campaigning organisation. The Dogs Trust sponsorship information is available at Just Giving or E-mail at fundraiseforus@dogstrust.org.uk

So, by sponsoring me, not only will you keep a would-be potato away from his couch, but all the proceeds will go to help two charities carry on their excellent and much-needed work.

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