Islander Kate Set To Undertake Saharan Challenge For MAD-Aid

Isle Of Wight runner and long-distance walker, Kate Couch, is heading off to the Sahara Desert later this month (October) to do a double marathon for the charity, MAD-Aid.

Kate hopes her latest challenge will raise £1,000 for East Cowes-based MAD-Aid, which runs projects on the Isle of Wight and further afield.

The Saharan Ultra Challenge involves Kate flying out to Morocco and then taking part in two back-to-back marathons in the Draa Valley on October 13 and 14. 

She also has the option of doing one marathon (26.2 miles/42.2km) and one longer ultra-marathon 31-mile/50km route – all in temperatures of around 28c to 30c.

Kate, 48, said:

“I have never done an endurance challenge in the desert before - so this will be stepping into the unknown for me - and I will decide whether to do the longer distance option once I am in the desert.

“But I have completed the Brighton Half Marathon, the London Marathon, the 100km London 2 Brighton Ultra Challenge and the 50km North Downs Ultra Challenge this year, so I have spent plenty of time running and hiking!

“There was initially some doubt as to whether the Saharan Challenge could go ahead, following the Moroccan earthquake in early September.

“But the Action Challenge team, who run the Sahara event, were swift to evaluate the damage and reassure us that everything could go ahead as planned.”

MAD-Aid runs a community space in East Cowes, recycles medical equipment, and helps Ukrainian refugees on the Isle of Wight, as well as managing projects in Eastern Europe – primarily Moldova.

One of MAD-Aid's big projects for 2023/24 is to renovate the neonatal unit at the Mother and Child Institute, which is the main children's hospital in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau and has not seen any significant investment since 1986.

Kate added:

“I hope the money I raise from my Saharan Challenge can be used to help improve conditions for the vulnerable babies born in this hospital.” 

You can sponsor Kate via her Justgiving page.