A dad of two from Ealing, west London, has taken on the “toughest foot race on earth” to raise thousands for charity.
Aled Davies, 42, took part in the Marathon des Sables last month, raising more than £4,000 for Harrison’s Fund. The challenge is a grueling multi-stage race through a formidable landscape in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates: the Sahara Desert. Runners must cover a distance of 255km in six days. The rules require runners to be self-sufficient, meaning they have to carry all their own clothes, water and provisions.
“One afternoon I was sitting in Paddington train station reading a copy of the London Evening Standard when a headline that grabbed my attention,” says Aled. There was a picture of Harrison with his father, Alex, below the headline: ‘I wish my son had cancer’. I was reduced to a blubbering wreck and very quickly came to the conclusion that I must do something to help – that’s when it occurred to me perhaps I could use the marathon as a way of raising awareness and of course vital funding for Harrison’s Fund.
“The marathon was one of the toughest experiences of my life. This year average peak temperatures were in the 50s and the sand dunes were the size of Snowdon. Water is rationed on a daily basis with each runner receiving just a maximum of 11litres per day.
Mental strength
“As well as the physical challenge, mentally it was exhausting. I ran alone for the vast majority of the time except for the notoriously known Day Four which is the longest stage at 82km so most runners are navigating their way through the desert with a head torch. All the while though I had the picture of Harrison and Alex in my head and it kept me going through the tough times.”
Harrison’s Fund is named after seven year old Harrison Smith from Surrey who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal genetic condition that affects the muscles, causing muscle weakness. The charity’s goal is to get as much money as possible into the hands of the world’s best researchers, who are working to find a cure for Duchenne.
Alex Smith, Founder of Harrison’s Fund and dad to Harrison, said: “Aled did brilliantly well.
This year’s race was one of the toughest yet which was reflected in the dropout rate but he managed to finish in 264th position from 1,100 runners so he has done the charity proud.
It is one thing to donate money but quite another to put yourself through all these physical challenges.
“Our charity isn’t just about saving Harrison it’s about saving anyone, both now and in the future, who unfortunately have or might have Duchenne, and Aled’s fundraising total of more than £4,000 will make a real difference to this”
To support Aled please visit http://www.justgiving.com/AledDaviesMdS or text MDSA94 to the number 70070
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