1st to 11th April 2011

Simon Edgar, Mark Gardner and Jarlath O’Hara successfully completed the 2011 Marathon des Sables – a 6 day / 155 mile endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

The fundraising effort for CRY was a joint undertaking. All three worked tirelessly fundraising for CRY and completed the 2011 Marathon des Sables finishing as follows;

Jarlath O’Hara (London) – 109th overall (out of 850) and 1st Irish

Mark Gardner (Derby) – 81st and 9th Briton

Simon Edgar (Leeds) – 143rd overall and 19th Briton

The event is equivalent to 5½ regular marathons, carrying everything needed for the duration, with speeds up to 12 km an hour – this is truly a remarkable achievement and demonstration of mental stamina.

Of the experience, Simon said: “The ‘Toughest Foot Race on Earth’ certainly lived up to its reputation but exceeded all my expectations. An amazing, albeit gruelling, event that involved 155 miles of the Moroccan Sahara in temperatures reaching 55ºC. Easily the hardest yet strangely most enjoyable race I’ve ever done. Thanks to everyone who has kindly supported this challenge and helping me raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young.”

Simon, Mark and Jarlath can still be sponsored at http://www.justgiving.com/MdS2011CRY