One month to go until Sir Ranulph Fiennes attempts to become oldest Brit to complete the Marathon des Sables

- Explorer celebrates 71st birthday -

It’s just one month to go until Sir Ranulph Fiennes attempts the ‘toughest foot race on earth’, the Marathon des Sables. The explorer, who is celebrating his 71st birthday this weekend, will be the oldest Brit to complete this gruelling challenge if he succeeds.

The Marathon des Sables is a punishing six day ‘ultra-marathon’ which covers 251 km/156 miles in over 50°C heat in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates - the Sahara desert.  The race includes the distance of a marathon a day and a double marathon one day, with runners carrying everything they need on their backs.

Despite suffering two heart attacks, undergoing a double heart bypass, a cancer operation and an on-going fight with diabetes, Fiennes is taking on the challenge to raise £2.5m for UK charity Marie Curie. The money raised will help the charity to provide more free care and support to people living with a terminal illness, and their families.

Speaking about the impending challenge Sir Ranulph Fiennes said:
“With just a month to go they’ll be no cake or treats for my birthday this year. I’ve been training for six months and although I may be 71, I’m not ready to stop anytime soon. I hope, if I become the oldest Brit to complete it, I’ll raise lots of money for Marie Curie.”

Rory Coleman has completed the Marathon des Sables eleven times and has been training Ranulph for the challenge. He said: “This race is tough. Tough for anyone, but with Ranulph’s previous health conditions and age, he’s going to find it incredibly hard. We’ve been trying to improve his endurance by running on the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes and Exmoor. He’ll also be training in a heat lab later in the month, which recreates the desert climate, to test his ability in the heat.”

Paul Sykes, long-time supporter of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, said:
“Sir Ranulph proves with enormous willpower what can be physically achieved. He is a friend and hero to me and I am proud to support his latest endurance challenge. I have sponsored him to raise funds for Marie Curie before which included the Everest and Eiger challenges. To date sir Ranulph has raised £6.3m for Marie Curie. This has helped the charity reach many more people living with a terminal illness as well as vital emotional support for their families.”

To donate to Sir Ranulph’s challenge visit www.justgiving.com/ranulph  or text RUN to 70007 to donate £5 plus a message of support to Sir Ranulph.

To follow Sir Ranulph’s challenge visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/ranulph

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