A KIDDERMINSTER postman is running the gruelling Marathon des Sables to raise funds for a colleague’s grandchild.
Shaun Marshall, aged 49, will take on the seven-day 150-mile ultramarathon in the Sahara desert from April 21, which is the length of six ordinary marathons.
Participants must carry everything they need with them except for tents and the longest day can involve a run of more than 50 miles.
Shaun hopes to raise at least £500 for Freddie Hales, aged 7, from Sutton.
Freddie has cerebral palsy which, while it affects people differently, for him means he has uncontrollable muscle spasms and is unable to chew his food, speak or sit up unaided. However, he can smile and laugh and loves to splash around in the bath and in swimming pools.
Freddie’s family have fundraised tirelessly since his birth for therapy and equipment, including three trips to the NAPA Center in the USA for intensive physiotherapy of a kind not available in the UK. They are currently fundraising for further rounds of physiotherapy at the new NAPA Centre due to open in London, as well as a new wheelchair for Freddie.
People can sponsor Shaun or donate to Freddies’s fund by visiting www.treeofhope.org.uk/freddiesphysio.
Shaun, who has already run several marathons as well as the 100-mile Enduroman 100 in the Forest of Dean in which he gained first place in 2018 said: "I’ve taken part in charity events with Freddie’s grandfather Paul Mudge who is a work colleague – we walked up Cadair Idris - so I thought I’d do this one for Freddie.
"It’s my biggest challenge yet – I’ll be 50 this year and promised myself 25 years ago that I’d do this one for my 50th birthday. I’m currently running about five miles before work each day plus seven or eight afterwards, plus some swimming and cycling as I’m also training for the Tenby Triathlon in September."
Freddie’s family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children with healthcare needs.