Tristram Lewis-Stempel will be taking part in the Marathon Des Sables 2021, known as the toughest footrace on earth! It takes place in April, through the punishing heat of the Sahara desert. As part of team ‘Just Deserts’ Tristram will be raising money and awareness for spinal cord injury (SCI) cure research charity, Walkoncemore. In this six-day, 254 km ultra-marathon (the equivalent to six regular marathons), he will cross numerous terrains, sand dunes, salt flats, mountains and rock. Just to make things that little bit more taxing, he will be traversing the course with his entire kit on his back, containing food, cooking equipment, sleeping bag, clothes, venom pump, flare, and every other essential supply required to survive this self-sufficient race.
Tristram says, “In the lead up to this event, I will also cover thousands of kilometres in training in order to prepare my body for the pain and suffering I will endure in temperatures well above 50 degrees. None of this compares to how tough daily life is for millions of people around the world after falling victim to SCI. With each unforgiving mile of the course, I am aiming to raise as much money and awareness as possible towards a cure for this debilitating condition.
As things stand, once a person suffers damage to their spinal cord, it is almost always permanent and the individual is usually left having to live with severe disability through paralysis. The research that Walkoncemore supports aims to make this a thing of the past. New and old injuries will become temporary, allowing the person affected to regain full sensation and mobility. Funds raised will go only to the brightest minds in the field who are working tirelessly to make this happen as soon as possible.”
Tristram is looking to raise a minimum of £6,700, meaning that with his team mates Alasdair and Christian they will reach £20,000.
More information about it, and the link to donate, are here:
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