Kidderminster Postman to Run Marathon Des Sables

To raise money for a neighborhood hospice, a postman is planning to run an ultramarathon in the Sahara desert.

The Marathon des Sables will start on April 21 and Shaun Marshall, 49, of Kidderminster will take part.

He is scheduled to fly to Morocco where he will compete in the six-day, 251-kilometer race.

Mr. Marshall added that he had been motivated to raise money for his colleague’s cerebral palsy-suffering five-year-old grandson, Freddie.

Translating to the Marathon of the Sands, the Marathon des Sables is widely regarded as the “toughest footrace on earth” and is the length of six regular marathons.

The “self-sufficient” race requires competitors to carry everything they need with them during the competition, including backpacks containing food and sleeping equipment.

Prior to becoming a postman, Mr. Marshall served in the Royal Marines, and he talked about how he had been practicing while making his rounds.

He claimed that his job allowed him to walk a few miles each day and that he had taken part in long runs on the weekends and in the evenings.

He has previously competed in a number of UK marathons, including the 100-mile Enduroman in the Forest of Dean, where he took first place, and a 24-hour Santa Fun Run.

But on this journey, he will have to run or walk over rocky terrain in a desert environment where the temperature frequently soars to 50 degrees.

“I’m going down to the bare necessities really, if I don’t need it, I won’t take it,” Marshall gave an explanation.

“In addition to food, medical supplies, and a sleeping system, I’ll be carrying 10 kilos.

“We will sleep in a tent at night in the desert,” he added.

Kemp Hospice in Kidderminster, which provides specialized care to families dealing with life-limiting illnesses, is the organization Mr. Marshall wants to raise money for.

Additionally, he has set a fundraising goal of £500 for Freddie and the children’s charity Tree of Hope.

“I work with his grandad and he said he needs a lot of money for treatment,” he said, explaining that For treatments that were unavailable in the UK, Freddie had in the past traveled outside of the country.

“He travels to the USA for treatment because we don’t provide it here, so he really depends on fundraising.”

Reference: www.bbc.com/news