| | Management consultant
Tim Lawrence has
completed the toughest
foot race on earth – the
Marathon des Sables in
the Moroccan Sahara
desert – for UK learning
disability charity
Mencap.
Lawrence was one of
879 competitors to
finish the race – and he
completed it in a time
of 35 hours, 19 minutes.
The Marathon des
Sables, known as the
toughest foot race on
earth, this year covered
five marathons over five
days. Competitors had to
carry all their food,
clothes and medical kit,
with only water and a | |
|
| | tent supplied by
organisers. The
temperature can reach
120°F, and the
competitors run across a
mixture of uneven,
rocky, stony ground and
sand dunes. This year
the participants were
faced with the added
challenge of adverse
weather with rain
flooding the camp, which
led to the first and
last days of the race
being cancelled.
Lawrence was
competing for UK
learning disability
charity Mencap and
raised over £10,000. He
created a special
cookbook, featuring
recipes from celebrity | |
|
| | chefs, which can be
bought for £15 from
http://www.runningonempty
.co.uk.
Lawrence said: “It
was an incredibly
challenging event. The
combination of heat,
terrain and unforeseen
illness took its toll
but, with some fantastic
people, I am overjoyed
to have completed the
event. The support of
the Mencap team was
inspiring, and I am
thrilled to have raised
money for such a good
cause.”
Ellie Gray, director
of fundraising at
Mencap, said: “The
toughness of this event | |
|
| | and the hard work each
person puts in cannot be
underestimated. Merely
surviving in
temperatures and
conditions such as that
is a challenge, but to
run five marathons in
five days is an
incredible achievement.
“We are delighted
that every single one of
the 13 Mencap
competitors managed to
complete the Marathon
des Sables 2009 and
between them they raised
over £90,000. This money
will help Mencap to
continue its work
supporting people with a
learning disability.”
Mencap fights for | |
|
| | equal rights, campaigns
for greater
opportunities and
challenges attitudes and
prejudice. Through
housing, education,
employment, leisure and
advocacy services,
Mencap supports people
with a learning
disability to live their
lives the way they want.
The organisation has
exclusive places on a
number of marathons,
ultra-marathons and
challenges in the UK and
abroad, including the
Marathon des Sables. | |
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