TRACK US ... ENCOURAGE US.... AND GIVE ....please?

Dear family, friends and all you other [lovely!] people - 

So.  If you have seen us during the past 6-12 months then you know (and we promise to shut up about it SOON(ish) so you can soon(ish) stop avoiding us…)

We're doing Marathon des Sables. 250km over 7 days across the Saharan Desert – that translates to 6 marathons plus 10km …since they give us one rest day in between they require us to do 80+km on one day. We're going to be tired. And very very hot. Bothered…?? We'll get back to you on that one…

We leave on 5 April. AAAAAARGH! Here's what you can do to help us (if you believe we can still be helped):

1. If you want to know how we are (more or less live) check in here from time to time. We will have patchy reception and can only send one email per day
2. We can RECEIVE as many encouragement emails as you can write. So please please please write to us. To encourage us (or remind us we are mad). Put Wednesday 10 April in your calendar now – that is the 80+km day. How to do it: go to www.marathondessables.com and then to 'Ecrire aux Concurrents' (Write to Competitors) and we are Jan Petzel (race number 550) and Kim Petzel (race number 551), part of UK contingent. This service is available from 9-14 April – please please, whenever you are particularly enjoying some wonderful comfortable aspect of your holiday, share it and gloat.
3. If communication ain't your thing [but curiosity is…] you can still track us – once again, hop on www.marathondessables.com and find #550 and #551. The link will go live on 7 April.
4. Lastly, giving back.  You'll be surprised to know we ain't doing this for the tan…. We have wonderfully functioning bodies and legs we can rely on – there are many who aren't so lucky.  Some by birth, some by tragic accident.  Life without the use of one's legs presents challenges and frustrations none of us would even dare to imagine. Through Ella's school we have come across a wonderful charity – the Walkabout Foundation – that offers funding for spinal cord injury research as well as providing purpose built (and easy to maintain bearing in mind terrain and facilities) wheelchairs.  Our fundraising page is here and if you do have a little bit of time, spend it on the website – it is not time wasted!

Right, on that note…gotta run!! 🙂

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAILS OF ENCOURAGEMENT!

THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS (and keep fingers and toes crossed we finish it this time otherwise you get to have another year of this chat from us!)

BIG HUGS AND KISSES ALL AROUND!

Jan and Kim