Marathon runner conquers Saharan test

A St Catherine’s supporter faced the ‘biggest challenge of his life’ in aid of the hospice when he defied sand and sun to cross the Southern Moroccan Sahara.

Tony Valentive took part in the ‘Marathon des Sables’ event in April this year, an epic 156 mile ‘ultra marathon’ spread across six days.

The Marathon is an annual event which takes place in Southern Morocco in the Sahara desert and this year, Tony decided he’d face the grueling challenge for St Catherine’s Hospice.

“I wanted to help make a difference to people who are being cared for at St Catherine’s,” said Tony who raised £2,000 for the charity.

“St Catherine’s Hospice provides specialised palliative and end of life care tailored to each patient’s individual needs; respects their independence, privacy and dignity, and is a charity very close to my heart.

“In order to try to even slightly appreciate the challenges that life thrusts upon individuals you have to put yourself to the test, and my test was the MDS. Raising money for people who find themselves with their families facing life-limiting illnesses is the least I could do.”

Tony was spurred on through the blistering Sahara heat by the thought of raising money for such an important local charity.

“Knowing the money raised will help the care St Catherine’s provides certainly helped me through to the finish line,” he concluded.

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