About the Marathon Des Sables

The MdS is a 6 day / 230km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normally taking place at the end of March / beginning of April.

During this time the competitors (myself included!) have to carry all food, cooking equipment, food, survival equipment, etc over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures upto 120°F.

Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables

My name is Michael Gates. I am a 24 year old Machinist from BAE Systems, Samlesbury Site.
It has always been a aim of mine to take part, and complete this event known as the the Toughest Footrace On Earth. This will involve a lot of training and effort from me to just complete it over the next year. I thought as well as competing in this event, I should raise money for charity. I will be personally financing the trip with my own money, which is costing around the £2500 mark. This means that 100% of all money that I manage to raise will be equally split (50-50) between the two charities I have chosen, namely M.A.G. and Derian House.
M.A.G. is a charity that helps countries all over the world with mine clearance and unexploded munitions clearance working in countries from Europe to Asia and Africa saving thousands of lives.
Derian House, on the other hand, is a local children's hospice which looks after terminally ill children and is based in Chorley. See attached acknowledgement.
As well as family and friends supporting me, I am looking for people all of the BAE Systems sites to help and support me in this good cause. I hope to raise a minimum of £10,000. Any and all support will be greatly appreciated.

Links

• www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
• www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA (official charity of the MdS in 2003)
• www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS