Bridgnorth company director Paul Griffiths is set to embark on the infamous Marathon des Sables or ‘Marathon of the Sands’, a six-day, 156 mile race which is the equivalent of six regular marathons. Paul will be heading off to Morocco in April to compete in what is considered the toughest foot race on earth, in which contestants have to carry all their own kit for the week, including food, clothes, medical kit, cooking utensils and sleeping bag. Water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint. Started in 1986, the event has attracted athletes such as James Cracknell and Ben Fogle in the past and Paul, who has never run a marathon before but enjoys a challenge, is hard at work training in readiness for his ordeal. Paul’s mother died of breast cancer twenty years ago and he always promised himself that he would undertake a fundraising mission of some kind in her memory.
After seeing a TV documentary involving the race a few years ago, Paul decided that this was the event he had been looking for. Paul has no great love of running and by his own admission doesn’t particularly like roughing it, so this is going to be a mental challenge as much as a physical one.
Paul’s employer, Grove Metal Sections Ltd, has agreed to pay the costs of entry to the event including flights and accommodation, ensuring that any money Paul is able to raise for Breakthrough will go straight to the charity.
Paul can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/Paul-Griffiths10.
