What is the Marathon Des Sables?

 Runners in the Marathons Des Sables

This is an annual event - 2012, it will be the 27th year - which is held in a remote and parched area of the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco. The course of the event varies each year, but the distance covered is generally about 153 miles (245 Km) run or walked over 6 stages. Each competitor has to carry everything they will need during the race (food, clothing, medical supplies etc) on their backs. Water is distributed every 10 Km and tents are erected by the MdS organisers each night. In addition to this, competitors will have to cover the distance at times in temperatures of over 100°F. But don't let this put you off... We have had people aged from 16-75, people with disabilities (blind, semi-paralysed on crutches, Chris Moon who achieved it with only one leg and one arm etc etc).

Registration Information

What is Facing Africa?

As you will have seen from our web site, Facing Africa is a registered UK charity that funds and organises teams of volunteer surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who visit Ethiopia 2 - 3 times each year on two-week surgical missions to operate on children who have survived the ravages of noma. Each team achieves 50-55 facial reconstructions, thus giving 50-55 of the poorest people on earth a chance of a new face and a new life.

Each mission costs around £ 70,000 to fund. This is to cover the costs of flights, accommodation and meals for the volunteers as well as large quantities of drugs and medications, surgical instruments and equipment. Also a small local staff who spend the whole year locating noma patients in remote rural areas.

Photos From The Race

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sand Marathon

The You Tube video below is the introduction to the BBC programme "The Sand Marathon", presented by Ben Fogle.

The Sand Marathon

Below is an image of a trophy, given as a special award from the organisers of the MdS for Facing Africa's humanitarian work.

The text reads:

A few days between sand and sky,
A few endless days for the body and the soul,
A few days of madness.

 The MdS humanitarian trophy awarded to Facing Africa

© 2012 Facing Africa - Noma Ltd. All Rights Reserved. UK Registered Charity No: 1072505