Nathan Farrugia and Douglas Barbaro Sant are braving the Sahara Desert by taking part in the ‘toughest foot race on earth’, the Marathon Des Sables (MDS), to raise money for the local charity Inspire Foundation, and the English charity Facing Africa.
They will be the first two Maltese men to ever take part in such a race. The challenge requires them to run 250km, the equivalent of six marathons, together with 750 runners, across the hostile Moroccan desert over six days. Their aim is to reach the finish line safe and sound, and raise e30,000 through sponsorship and donations.
Usually, the marathon is 243km long but this year it has been extended by seven km to 250, to celebrate the 25th anniversary since it started being held.
Mr Farrugia and Mr Barbaro Sant embarked on this mission through Chris Lawrence, the mastermind behind the charity Facing Africa. He is also a specialist tour operator and owner of Best of Morocco Ltd, which since 1993, has been the official representative of the MDS. Mr Lawrence insists that every participant runs the race for a charitable cause. In fact most of Facing Africa’s funding comes from the efforts of MDS competitors.
Although the MDS is fully booked for the next three years, Mr Farrugia and Mr Barbara Sant managed to get hold of two places in the race through Mr Lawrence. Although the race requires long months of training, the two started training only three months before they will be setting off to Morocco on 31 March.
They will be running in the blistering heat of the Sahara, which at times goes up to 52 degrees Celsius, on varied terrains ranging from uneven rocky ground to sand dunes, rocky hills, palm groves, dried mud flats or salt pans.
The challenge is even tougher because they have to carry the supplies to last them until the sixth day of the marathon including a tent, food, heat stove, clothes, venom pump, medical kit, emergency flares and sleeping bag.
In addition, water is rationed and handed out at each checkpoint every 13km. The actual track is not revealed until the marathon starts. Each day of the marathon is an adventure, as each of the six stages ranges from 20 to 82 km in length, with the longest single stage to date reaching 91km. Stage Four is considered the most gruelling, a double marathon segment consisting of a total distance of 82km. All participants must be able to survive each part of the race within a given time scale to avoid getting disqualified.
A general practitioner and nutritionist are closely following the Maltese participants, to ensure that no health risks are taken.
For Mr Farrugia and Mr Barbara Sant, enduring the exhaustion and the inevitable physical ailments is nothing compared to the daily sacrifice of those who depend on the services of Inspire or Facing Africa.
Inspire provides persons with special needs, with services that help them gain inclusion, access to education, employment and reaching their full potential. Professionals offer these services and the organisation’s running costs are substantial.
Facing Africa is an English NGO that raises funds to treat African patients suffering from the dreadful and shocking effects of a condition called ‘Noma’. Noma causes facial deformities caused by malnutrition. It is often referred to as “the face of poverty”.
Donations may be made either via SMS on 50618080 for a donation of e4.66, on 50618926 for a donation of e6.99 or on 50619215 to donate e11.65. Donations can also be made by a cheque addressed to ‘Inspire’ and mailed to Marathon Des Sables, c/o Inspire – The foundation for Inclusion, BLB801 Bulebel, Zejtun, ZTN 3000 or online on www.simplygiving.org.mt/extremechallenge.