It is described as being the toughest foot race on the planet. A few years back I viewed a programme on BBC2 of a documentary concerning the Marathon Des Sables I found myself inspired by what I was witnessing. In the following months I researched what is involved in competing in the event and in turn how one would go about doing this.
Having done this I sat down with my father and told him that I planned to enter the event at some point. He had a good laugh to himself at my expense and said I would never be able to complete it. My father was Navy veteran and had experienced climates such as the harshness of the Sahara Desert. I remember saying to him that one day I will complete the event.
Unfortunately my father lost his battle with heart disease in January 2008. This tragedy has inspired me to enter the MDS 2011 and prove that I do have what it takes to finish the toughest foot race on the planet.
For all my pre MDS 2011 races I will be raising funds for the John Myers BEM memorial fund c/o Take Heart. For the MDS 2011 itself I will be raising funds for the Gift of Hope fund in memory of John Myers BEM c/o the British Heart Foundation.