On the 6th April I was due to compete in my 5th Consecutive Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara.
Understandably this has been postponed due to the coronavirus.
I have decided to run (and walk!) the Marathon Des Sables distance from 2019 starting Sunday 6th April ending Saturday 12th April all in my small garden at home because we all need to avoid unneseccary outside contact to help to reduce the spread of this indiscriminate killer.
This will be one hell of a challenge as the distances are :-
6th April 32.2 kilometres
7th April 32.5 kilometres
8th April 37.1 kilometres
9th April 76.3 kilometres
11th April 42.2 kilometres
12th April 9.3 kilometres (longer than the race but makes a nice round total of 230k or 143 miles)
Each lap of my garden is 0.07 of a kilometre so thats about 3,285 laps of my garden, it will be a tough, boring, painful slog.
I am raising funds for the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal because they will distribute the funds to where they are needed most in the UK and jointly split what I raise with Prostate Cancer UK as I was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer just over 5 years ago and given as little as 2 years to live. Treatment for many men has stalled because of coronavirus and sadly prostate cancer will still be a killer of men fter coronavirus has been tamed.
I am able to take on this challenge because of the incredible support from my employer Nat West who like me are doing what they can to help those affected by coronavirus.
Thank you