Help for Heroes MdS 2009

[Pez]

My diving and posting have taken a downturn of late as I am trying to train hard for the 24th Marathon Des Sables. The MdS takes place next March in the Moroccan Sahara desert, it is a mere 151 mile footrace over 6 days. We will be carrying all of our equipment, approx 20 kgs and doing the equivalent of 5 marathons, albeit in +40 degrees of dune and desert. The organisers claim it is the hardest footrace on earth, what do they know? Marathon des Sables About the MdS

I am one of a team of 6 RAF personnel who intend to run/walk/crawl the event in order to satisfy our need for pain but more importantly, raise money for the Help for Heroes charity Help for Heroes - A charity for the wounded in Britain’s current conflicts

We are hoping to raise as much as we can to assist the charity fund projects such as a pool for Headley court rehab centre that does amazing work for injured servicemen. Having flown on medical evacuation sorties in Afghanistan, I cannot over egg the lengths that our people go to to save lives. The HfH team are raising funds so that they can help rebuild the lives of those that survive horrific trauma in the service of or masters.

Whatever you think of the way we got into the current ops that all 3 services are engaged in, the daily truth is that real people are being shot, and blown up. I believe that this makes their rehabilitation and building of a new and very different life a very worthwhile cause. Any pain and blisters I get in the running of the event will heal, many of our injured servicemen and women's will not be as simple. I am sure you have seen the stories of amputees etc in the media, this is a small portion of the actual number.

If you can help us and HfH by sparing the price of a fill or a beer, you can donate online at Justgiving - Royal Air Force MdS 09 Fundraising Page

If any of you know of any companies, or the like, who may be interested in assisting us we would also be grateful for any assistance with the £3500 entry and kit cost each of us is paying to enter the race.

Thanks for any help or advice.

Pez

[brian russell]

good luck from an ex squaddie mate will be looking for progress reports

[the goat]

Fair play to you
Done

[GLOC]

Good luck guys. I will no doubt catch up with you soon Pez.

Regards

[hilrosepaul]

Done

[Pete H]

I see promotion must have adled your brains! Good luck and I'll watch your progress with interest.

Rgds

Pete

[Pez]

Thanks for the wise words and more importantly the donations thus far

[Paul Oliver]

Thats some event you are setting yourself up for mate, i've seen a few documentaries about it over the years and its gonna hurt

I will of course be making a suitable donation

[Pez]

Cheers Paul,

I am sure it will be an emotional week, especially as I deploy to Afg again a few weeks later!!

You of course will understand well that it will be no harder than learning to walk with no legs or how to hold your child with no arms. Hopefully our team's efforts will help raise awareness beyond those of us that have served our country and seen their mates injured or killed.

Thanks for the support.

[Pez]

3 more who will probably need help after the Apache incident on Weds

Still open for any donations.