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We're excited to say that we are going to be competing in the 2017 Marathon des Sables! In April we'll be arriving in the sweltering Sahara desert to complete this punishing ultra-marathon, while raising vital money and awareness for spinal cord injury research charity, Walkoncemore. This will be a gruelling event, but we're already enjoying the challenge and hoping that you’ll all get behind us as we prepare for it.

As a six-day,156 mile ultra-marathon (the equivalent to six consecutive marathons), we will cross numerous terrains including sand dunes, salt flats, mountains and rock in temperatures well above 50 degrees Celsius. Just to make things a little bit harder, we'll need to carry our food, cooking equipment, sleeping bags, clothes, venom extractors(!), flares and other essential supplies on our backs the whole way. Yes, we think it's safe to say that the MDS really is the toughest and most self-sufficient footrace on Earth.

In the lead up to this event, we will be covering thousands of kilometres in training to prepare our bodies for the distances and conditions we're set to endure. Although we've both experienced the desert during our time in the Army, this will be a different kettle of fish altogether. What we're doing however, still doesn’t remotely compare to how tough daily life is for millions of people around the world after falling victim to a spinal cord injury (SCI).

This cause is close to both of our hearts. Kelly was medically discharged from the Army in 2015 following a back injury and years of resulting chronic pain. During this time she underwent rehabilitation in a number or military and civilian hospitals and competed in the Invictus Games. Through these experiences she met people whose lives, and those of their families, had been transformed by SCI and questioned what more could be done to improve the treatment available to them. As well as overcoming personal challenges, Kelly wants to support ground breaking research that will help millions of people to one day have a future free of paralysis, immobility and dependency. Nick too has friends who through rugby and tragic accidents need treatment to be advanced, and was on board straight away.

Walkoncemore is a charity which raises funds to support the most cutting edge advances in curative research into SCI. Please have a look at the link below to learn more about their work. The charity is run entirely by volunteers and every penny raised goes towards carefully selected research projects.

So, please dig deep! Every little bit really does help, and will keep us going out in Morocco. We're looking to raise £10,000 and may even exceed this with your kindness and generosity.

We really appreciate your support. Thanks a million everyone. 

Kelly Rhodes & Nick Wright