Since the creation of Facing Africa in 1998, we have had hundreds of donations and have to date raised over £500,000 for the Sokoto Project. Our main source of funds comes from the Sahara Marathon (details below) but we also aim to increase general awareness, in order to create a base of regular supporters. The picture to the left shows Chris Lawrence, trustee and chairman of Facing Africa, accepting a cheque for £23,719.11 (about €34,600) from Dauntsey's School (www.dauntseys.wilts.sch.uk) in Wiltshire who made Facing Africa their chosen charity for 2005/2006.

All Sahara Marathon Facing Africa teams are listed here.

In 1993, Chris Lawrence introduced the Marathon des Sables (MdS) to the UK. An annual event held in the Sahara Desert of Morocco and considered the toughest footrace on earth. Each year around 750 competitors from 30 countries assemble in a remote part of the Sahara to take part in a race covering 145 miles in temperatures of 120°F and crossing miles of sand and rocky terrain over a period of 6 days. Not only do these people (men and women aged between 16 and 75) have to suffer trashed feet, blistering backs, intense heat, dehydration, extreme fatigue but they also have to compete in an event of self-sufficiency and carry everything they will need for the 6 days (food, clothing, medical supplies etc). Prior to 1993, no British person had ever taken part in this event which is organised by a French adventurer, Patrick Bauer (www.darbaroud.com)

Great Britain now enters the largest contingent with 235 competitors. Over the years that Chris has been involved with the MdS, he has made it a rule that each British competitor must do this for a charity. The majority of Facing Africa's funding comes from the efforts of British competitors at the MdS which now constitutes about 40% of the UK competitors. Each individual and team competitor's donations are listed on the website www.saharamarathon.co.uk (click on the Facing Africa link)

If you would like to help raise money for Facing Africa would of course be delighted and very grateful. You may like to consider any one of the many fund-raising opportunities that exist from holding a coffee morning, sponsoring a Marathon des Sables competitor (the registration fee is around £ 2,000 per person), asking your local church to donate a collection, competing in a local fun-run (mini-marathon) or simply asking your friends for donations.

If you would like any further information about fundraising ideas or anything to do with Facing Africa, please contact Suzy at info@facingafrica.org.

Facing Africa are now members of the FRSB, The Fundraising Standards Board. To find out more, please visit www.frsb.org.uk

The Great British Duck Race
On Sunday 2nd September 2007, 165,000 rubber ducks will be sent down a 1km stretch of the River Thames near Hampton Court Palace to set a new World Record and raise over £500,000 for UK Charities. Facing Africa is one of those charities.

The Surgical Treatment of Noma
An online version of the Facing Africa-sponsored book on the treatment of Noma. This book is aimed at surgeons and anaesthetists who see the needs of patients suffering from the sequelae of noma, and are working in developing countries or are planning to do so on a per- manent basis or as part of a surgical aid programme. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. (1.9mb)

The Sokoto Project
Further information about the children's hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. (269kb)