The first donations are in!

Let's stop rhino poaching!

Since the start of the poaching epidemic in 2008, South Africa has lost well over 1,200 rhinos - a figure that, despite so much effort, increases daily. Few people realize the challenges facing those on the frontlines. There are thousands of kilometers to patrol with little to no idea of where the poachers plan to hit next. Rhinos are killed, or left for dead simply for their horns. Demand is being driven by a market in Asia which believes powdered rhino horn can cure ailments including cancers - despite no scientific evidence to back this up. Reuters reported in August of 2012 'almost two rhinos are being poached each day in South Africa to meet surging Asian demand for their horns which are now worth more than their weight in gold'.

If you donate a higher amount, the EWT will send you a personalized certificate of appreciation (like the one below).  Isn't that cool?!

A great BIG thanks to everyone who has donated so far. It's because of you that I do this!!

Daniela Poeschl, Ljiljana Baburek, Cornelia & Christian Camilleri, Hans Norbart, Erick Norbart, Bianca Weissenbach and last but not least Tobias Larsson. You guys are awesome!!

Marathon des Sables

Here is the official site from the organizers: 

Marathon des Sables Official Site

It's official - I've signed up!

Marathon des Sables – Marathon of the Sands

It's funny how things work out sometimes.....an idea forms, and somewhere along the line it becomes a reality. It kind of sneaks up on you and when you least expect it, things fall into place. A little more than 2 years ago, a crazy friend of mine started writing about this amazing event in the Saharan desert where you carry your own supplies and complete gruelling marathon days, day after day. At first I thought he must have eaten an apple that fell from the funny tree, but the more I started reading about it, the more I became intrigued. What if I could also do this? Can I even try or will I quit after day 1?  

The Marathon des Sables is widely known as the world’s toughest footrace. The course for the event varies each year, but the distance covered is generally about 153 miles (245 Km) which is run or walked (or both) over 6 stages of roughly  25, 34, 38, 82, 42, and 22 km. This is a self-supportive race with competitors carrying everything they will need for the duration on their backs in a rucksack (food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag, etc). Water is distributed every 10 km. Each competitor will be carrying a backpack of around 13 kg through the whole race. Lovely, so we don’t have to complete insane distances, in very hot weather (40 degrees Celcius), with high humidity, but we have to carry our own supplies on our backs? 

I’m not by any means an endurance athlete. I’m not even a marathon runner yet. I’m just a recreational runner who has decided to listen to that little voice that started talking to me 2 years ago! For most people this is something that they build up to, and rightly so. Friends and family are asking me ‘You haven’t run a marathon yet. Why in the world are you signing up for the world’s toughest foot race?’ Honestly, I don’t really have an answer except for ‘Why not?!’ Well, that would be the first answer I would give jokingly, but when I think about it, there are actually a lot of reasons.

There you have it, and I’ve signed up! I just have to wait for the organizers to send me my race number and Bob's your uncle...no more excuses not to start preparing!