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MARATHON EFFORT FOR SOTE II - LATEST

Desert fund-raisers back in Budapest

Photo (L to R) Patrick McMenamin (Chair, appeal committee), Jock MacKenzie (Chair RBIF), Adrian Gray (RBIF Curatorium), Harry Harron and wife Tunde, HMA Greg Dorey, Simon Saunders

By Robin Marshall MBE
Two Budapest-based expats have returned safe and sound from a gruelling fund-raising effort running across the Sahara desert to generate funds for mother and child units at the 2nd Department of Paediatrics of Semmelweis University (SOTE II).

Harry Harron, from Ireland, and Simon Saunders, from Britain, had been competing in what is known as the toughest foot race on earth: the Marathon des Sables (MdS). They were welcomed back to Budapest on Tuesday (13 April) at a surprise reception of friends, supporters and sponsors at Le Meridien hotel.

Having finished in the top 50%, the two men looked tired and sunburned, but surprisingly fit. They said they had faired much better than some. “There were people in much worse shape than ourselves, people on crutches,” said Harron. Saunders described competitors walking in sandals because they could no longer get their feet into their boots.


Both described the challenge as an “amazing experience” and said they had learned a lot about goal setting, persistence, and determination, things they could carry through into their personal lives. “It is remarkable seeing how the mind takes over from the body and pushes you along,” added Saunders.

There are no immediate plans to repeat the MdS. “In some of the earlier stages we might have pushed a little harder, but then we were trying to hold something back for the longer later stages, where we did really well; overall, I’m very pleased with our performance,” said Harron. “I have never experienced pain in my feet like it, to the extent that almost everyone was on pain killers,” he added.

The challenge covered 250km (155 miles), which equates to about five-and-a-half marathons, and was run across the Sahara Desert over six days. Competitors had to carry with them food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag, in fact everything they needed for the duration, apart from water and a tent. (Water was rationed and handed out at each checkpoint, and the athletes slept in communal tents.) The two men were the only Hungary-based entrants from an international field of 800, and the first for five years.

The Marathon Effort For SOTE II aims to raise at least €50,000 to construct mother and child distance trauma units to assist the recovery of critically ill child patients coming from the borders of Hungary. Around 54% of that target has already been reached.

Family, friends and sponsors were able to keep up-to-date with the exploits of the two men via their blog (http://harryandsimon.wordpress.com/), a facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?[...] and the Robert Burns International Foundation site (www.rbif.org), which is ensuring the money goes where it can be of most help. It is still possible to donate to the cause: details of how to do so are on the various websites.

Press release prepared for the Robert Burns International Foundation and Marathon Effort For SOTE II by Robin Marshall, Devil's Advocate Communications (www.da-comms.com).

Day by day - fresh from the Sahara ...

Stage 6, day 7: Report to follow!

Stage 5, day 6: Marathon Stage (42km). Report from Harry: "The boys did well today [Friday], 5hr 42min for a full marathon. We ran 90% with the hope that we can get into the top 50%. It felt like we reached the top 40% today. It is the last stage tomorrow [Saturday] which is 21km over very large sand dunes, then 7 hours back to civilisation, a shower, and a beer. The race is hard but what we probably didn't appreciate so much was the uncomfortable element in terms of lack of food, lack of sleep, lack of cleaning; it takes its toll over the course of the week. It has truly been a physical and mental challenge. We have seen some real feats of courage and determination – people running in their sandals as they can't fit their shoes on any more. One guy in our tent has a bladder infection, broken toe, blisters on hs blisters and took 33 hours to complete the long day, still smiling. It has been awesome."

Stage/days 4,5.... After some time out for a hard earned rest, and to attend to blistered feet, Harry and Simon have emailed Adri and Tünde. Best of all, Adri was able to speak with Si via a satellite phone, and said he sounded in good spirits.

The Loons, living up to their name, tackled the long stage in one go, including a 10-hour night treck, following a laser in the sky, something Harry said was "very cool". Si explained their tactics: "Set off yesterday 8.30am for an easy 82.5km; good pace throughout the day despite baking heat. No hanging around in any of the CP for too long; Harry had some blisters patched but we pressed on into the night. Some massive dunes as we went through 15hrs and rushed the final CP, coming home in 19 hrs 35 mins, storming the last 10km and stealing at least 20 places!"

The stage has a 36 hr cut off point for completion. The boys were writing as that approached, with competitors still limping in. Harry graphically illustrated the scene: "Everyone is walking as if it is a war zone, limping and bandaged with painful expressions on their faces. It is as hard as we expected."

It's not quite all down hill from here though. "Only 40km tomorrow, after today's rest, and a final 20km with 7.7km of dunes to finish," says Simon. Harry was at pains to thank everyone who has emailed messages of support. Simon says he is looking forward to "a large steak and chips – hint, hint!"

Stage/day 3.... "We finished today a bit stronger than before. It was very long, 40km and very hot, 36 degrees. 50 people have now pulled out which tells us how bad it can get. Simon and I are well though. A few blisters and sore legs but nothing serious. Tomorrow we have then long day....maybe 20 hours, 82 km. It's going to be hard and I hope we get a good nights sleep tonight so we are fresh. It's hard to get a good nights sleep with so many people in the tent."

Stage/day 2....Temperature today was 46 Celcius at the hottest point. We started strong and enjoyed some fantastic scenery. The mood soon changed when we ran 10km across an open salt plain... it was a very hard slog in the heat and we used all our water well before the check point. This was followed by an ascent which actually uses ropes at one point to stop people falling back down. This was a brutal challenge and on the way home we had about 45 mins of sand dunes.

Total time out today was 7 hours and we covered 35 km. Simon and I are in relatively good health. We have seen collapses, vomiting, lots of very sore feet and 5 to 10 people have left the race. We are still doing well, saying that it isn't easy and our shoulders are tenderised along with quite sore feet & muscle strain. Moral is good and we have plenty of food... thank goodness.

Stage/day 1.... 29km Temp. 45c 1005 competitors representing 44 nations set out on a tough first day covering some testing climbs, rocky shale and dunes. We flew through the 1st CP (check point) hit the dunes which slowed us and came into the 2nd CP pretty tired but pushed on for the final 7km. First marathon completed we started on our cook-athon! No blisters yet! Longer day tomorrow 35,5km with what looks like some major climbs. Thank you for your e-mails, love to all friends and family.

Pictured left at a meeting of the Burns Supper Committee on 16th December 2009, Harry Harron (left) and Simon Saunders (right) will run the Marathon des Sables 2010 (the Sahara Marathon) a distance of over 250km, in temperatures up to 40C, carrying over 13kg each, over 7 days!!

And they will do it to help the sick and underprivileged children here in Hungary, specifically at the SOTE II clinic .



Our target is 50,000 Euro. On the left you can see the percentage of that target we have reached - at the moment over 26,000 Euro, 53% of the target.

If you wish to help by sponsoring or in any other way please contact either the Foundation or Harry and Simon personally. Click on the link below for more information and their own blog.

http://harryandsimon.wordpress.com/