The Marathon Des Sables
MDS Competitor
Event Date: 25th March 2007
Welcome to my webpage
About this Charity-Based Event
My name is Raz Prince and I am training for what has been widely called “the toughest foot race on Earth”, the 2007 Marathon Des Sables. The “Marathon Des Sables” is an endurance event that requires the participants to run five and a half marathons(230km) in six days across the Sahara Desert. Midday temperatures regularly soar to 120 degrees F, and competitors are required to carry most of their supplies. This is a charity-based event close to my heart; therefore I am looking to raise as much support and sponsorship as possible.
Why I am running the Marathon Des Sables
I wish to raise money for two charities Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and The National Fire Services Benevolent Fund. Both are close to my heart as my Grandmother suffered with MS, which is a condition of the Central Nervous System. It is the most common disabling neurological disease amongst young adults and affects around 85,000 people in the UK. MS is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40- though it can be earlier or later. Women are almost twice as likely as men to develop MS; in rare cases it affects children. Once diagnosed, MS stays with the person for life, but treatments and specialist care can help people to manage many symptoms well. Although its cause is not known and a cure has yet to be identified, research continues.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
The easiest way to understand what happens in MS is to think of the nervous system as an electrical circuit, with the brain and the spinal cord acting as the power source and the rest of the body being the lights, computers, TVs and so on.
Nerves are like electric cables linking the appliances together and the MYELIN (A substance surrounding and protecting the nerve fibres of the Central Nervous System) is the plastic insulation around these cables. If the insulation gets damaged, the appliances will become faulty or temperamental and there may be a short circuit.
This damage to the MYELIN disrupts messages travelling along the Nerve Fibres from the brain, which in turn disables the conscious and unconscious motor actions of the body.
My Grandmother gallantly battled with MS for 58 years until January 2006 she passed quietly in her sleep - God bless her.
The National Fire services Benevolent Fund (FSNBF)
The FSNBF is close to my heart as in 2004 we lost a fellow colleague in an industrial blaze.
Today, the FSNBF is a modern, dynamic, award-winning charity which provides assistance to serving and retired personnel, their widow/ers and young dependants through the provision of sheltered accommodation, recuperative facilities, rehabilitation and therapy, in addition to financial support for those who need it. The charity has three UK centres which provide these range of support services, in addition to an HQ facility in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
The charity now assists approximately 10,000 beneficiaries every single year, and has recently introduced new initiatives such as Child and Family Therapy programmes, which aim to enhance the quality of life for Fire Service personnel families who have a child with an illness or disability. The charity's services cost upwards of £9m per annum to maintain, and these services are financed almost exclusively by the fundraising efforts of the charity.
So if you are viewing this web page please help this worthy cause by pledging your support to this endeavour - please support my chosen charities by sponsoring my endurance race – any donation, (gear, apparel, money) would be of huge benefit. In appreciation of your support I would be more than happy to help promote your entity/company in any way possible.
Many Thanks to the Following Generous Sponsors
Morgan Signs
Morgan Signs design, manufacture & install all types of sign systems.
Designing signs for major Hoteliers, industry, public services, complete vehicle signage and many more………As you can see MORGAN SIGNS have given great support to help me to help others. Thank you