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On 8 April, I fly to southern Morocco to undertake a six-day 156 mile (250km) race in the Sahara Desert.  The Marathon des Sables (MDS) is known as the toughest footrace on earth, where competitors carry everything required to survive on their back for the week, except the water they collect en route and tent they share with seven strangers.  Temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Over the past nine months, I've run over 2,000 miles in training and added a further two official marathons to my total of nine.  I've never run an ultramarathon though, so the fourth day, which is typically over 90KM long, is sure to prove both a mental and physical challenge!

Despite the challenges, I am fortunate to have the privilege to participate in this race.  Not everyone is as lucky as me, and so I'm running to raise money for Women for Women International, which provides life, business and vocational skills to women in countries affected by conflict.  Women and girls suffer disproportionately from high rates of rape, violence and extreme poverty during times of conflict.  In modern war, it is shocking that it is more dangerous to be a woman than it is a soldier. Women for Women International is making a difference in these women's lives, by empowering them with skills which can turn their despair to hope, and engaging men as allies by teaching them about issues which negatively impact women.

Please donate whatever you can to Women for Women International through my JustGiving page.  Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.