Oliver Steeds – Marathon Des Sables

 

 

10 years ago my cousin Louise died of Lupus. Ten years on I thought I could do something to help raise money and awareness to continue research into this little known about disease. There are definitely more productive ways and a myriad of less-painful ways, to use hundreds of hours to raise money for charity, so consider sharing the pain from the comfort of your computer and donate a few sheckles…(www.justgiving.com/saharamarathons)

 

 

Why would anyone in their right mind want to do this?

Good question – honestly I don’t know. It seemed like a good way to get fit, now it seems like a stupid way to get fit, perhaps a good way to die. My main reason is illogical – I’m curious to know why this insane fringe of humanity would want to run across the sand, in the heat, carrying lots of weight… In my mind, giving myself a tracheotomy with a biro would be more worthwhile, perhaps even more fun. So why? The illogical solution – do it and find out.  So currently there is no good reason why I’m doing this. At the finish line, I’ll either know or I’ll give myself some surgery…

 

 

Who am I?

I now work for ABC News in London. I also co-found and co-run an expedition company, iNOMAD (http://www.inomad.co.uk/), have been involved in numerous expeditions around the world, mainly in hot sandy places including the Gobi (Mongolia, China), Sahara (Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia) and Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Jordan etc.). I’m also a film-maker and fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Explorers Club. Previous to this race, I have gently jogged one marathon in the Brecon hills and walked across the Gobi Desert.

 

 

 

Lupus (http://www.lupus.org.uk/)

Lupus is a chronic debilitating disorder of the immune system and is one of the major medical conditions of the modern age.  It is a condition, which causes inflammation of virtually any system or organ of the body, and can be life threatening.  Symptoms range through the whole medical textbook from fatigue, depression and allergies to convulsions, pleurisy, heart and kidney failure – although there is no cure with modern treatment the majority of cases can be controlled. Lupus affects 1 in 750 women usually in the prime of their lives, although men and even children are affected.  It is more prevalent than leukemia, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. Exercise, whilst not a cure, is prescribed as bringing great benefits to all sufferers. Donate @ www.justgiving.com/saharamarathons)

 

 

Share the pain with ‘The Daily Pain’

‘The Daily Pain’ will be my daily reports from the heart of the Sahara. Email me at info@inomad.co.uk before 7^th April and I’ll send you some rantings from a man going mad in the desert.

 

Links

iNOMAD:         http://www.inomad.co.uk/ (right click links on front page to access site)

Lupus:             http://www.lupus.org.uk/

Expedition Kit  http://www.expeditionkit.co.uk/

High Performance Training: Rollo Mahon  rollo@corenergy.com

Equipment  Chrisitan @ http://www.buncup.com

Marathon Des sables  http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/

 

DONATE

www.justgiving.com/saharamarathons