Royal Navy Pilots, James Birchall and André Milne who met as 13-year-olds at Plymouth College, have completed a spectacular charitable effort by competing in the grueling Marathon Des Sables race across the Sahara Desert. Described as 'the toughest foot-race on earth', the two 37 year old Lieutenant Commanders from the Commando Helicopter Force at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, have exceeded their initial target of raising £12,000 for The Children's Trust and are only a few pounds short of £20,000. Plymouth College supported James and André by raising £400 from a cake sale and mufti-day.
The Children's Trust is a national charity providing care, education and therapy to children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs across the UK. It also provides rehabilitation for children following acquired brain injury giving them the best opportunity to succeed at home and school (www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk). The two family men felt a huge affinity to the cause, not least of all due to the great work they both witnessed during their visit to the Trust; this certainly made their extreme challenge 'easier' to understand!
During the 154 mile, 6 stage running race, temperatures frequently exceeded 45°C and saw them treasure every drop of the 9-litre daily water ration particularly during the long stage of 51 miles. The water ration saw no washing for 6 days and self-sufficiency demanded the pair carry specialist lightweight food and equipment. Luckily the camel walking at the back of the field did not catch them either, this would have meant disqualification.
Some 860 competitors from 43 nations around the world competed this year and ran across the massively diverse Moroccan Sahara touching the edge of the Atlas Mountains. James and André crossed vast expanses of 'beach-like' plains, volcanic rock fields, dried river beds, powdery sand dunes and huge rocky hills or 'Jebels.'
After the epic race and despite the high of finishing André said: "The low was the unimaginable number of dunes covered, I managed to empty half a dune out of my left shoe on the final day and have kept some in a tub as my own unique reminder to not do the race again! No doubt it was tough, but we have been blown away by the public's generosity."
James said: "It was spectacular but we had little time to enjoy it, we were pushing hard, running together to keep our speed as high as possible. You had to keep focused and your mind was constantly busy evaluating your body to identify problems as soon as they developed. In parallel we frequently drew strength from the huge support we were receiving and for this we can't thank people enough, we never felt alone whilst running."
Still keen to reach their target of £20,000, James and André would welcome any further sponsorship through their Just Giving site www.justgiving.com/DesertMarathon2012
