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Portraits
Laurie
Andrews (465) and Michele Jensen (500), positive
Helder
Alexandre Sousa Ferreira (613), surprising
Desert
Team 22 (328, 329, 330, 331,332), focused
Ian
Sharman (821), motivated
Shigemi
Hazama (631), hilarious
Gilles
Diehl (141), modest
Mohamad
Ahansal (1), under pressure
Al
Aqra’ Salameh (71), ambitious
Jorge
Aubeso Martinez (622), zen
Touda
Didi (6), determined
Ryan
Gregory (526), hollywoodian
Sylvie
Alcala Bournat (187), serene
Stéphane
Lesoin (207), reliable
Louis
Cornevin (48), passionate
David
and Mark Simon (531 and 532), together
Paddy
Haddock (892), fishy |
COMPETITORS'
CORNER
Akanksha Foundation
Cancer Research UK
St. Vincent’s cancer
Passion Trophy
Noma Facing Africa
AICR
ING Chances for Children
Fred Hollows Foundation
RUN 4 CHILDREN
Competitors list - 2008
Blackfriars’s School
OFFICIAL
PARTNERS
KIA MOTORS
NEW BALANCE
THEOLIA
Buff
ONMT
Sidi Ali
transavia.com
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| Supporting St. Vincent’s cancer survivors
(Australia) |
back |
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Paul Gladwell (AUS-D491) and Martin Edwards(AUS-D485)
are preparing for the marathon of their life. These St. Vincent’s
employees are determined to conquer the awe-inspiring MARATHON
DES SABLES (Marathon of the Sands) in March 2008.
Fast facts:
Paul and Martin will run through some of the most beautiful
and remote sections of the Moroccan Sahara carrying a backpack
with all essential gear - food, sleeping bag and clothing.
- Race organisers provide only water (about 9l / day), and
a traditional two-sided Berber tent each night to sleep in.
- The terrain covered is a mix of salt flats, dried up river
beds, rocky desert plains and hills… plus a few giant sand
dunes! It’s not uncommon for the course to wander through
the odd remote desert village too. The course is kept secret
until the day before the start.
- Temperatures can be extreme… daytime highs can exceed 40°C
with night-time lows dropping to 5°C – and the occasional
sandstorm.
- Doctors and support crew follow the race; however each
competitor is required to carry a snake bite kit, thermal
blanket, signal mirror and distress flare.
So why would they do it?
In 1997 Paul and his six-year-old daughter lost a wife and
mother to breast cancer at the age of 32. Years later, after
marvelling at the care his family received from the St. Vincent’s
Oncology medical and social work teams, Paul is working at
this great Victorian institution in IT and is determined
to contribute to a new cancer centre being built in 2008.
In 2006 Martin lost his father John to Pancreatic cancer.
One of the things that stood out most from John’s battle
with Pancreatic cancer was the warmth and professionalism
displayed by those who cared for him in his treatment. This
care was extended not only to John but to his family. The
respite provided by the “Retreat” is a valuable service beyond
the direct treatment of cancer.
To help others benefit from his family’s experience Paul
helped set-up a dedicated space within Oncology known as “The
Retreat”, where:
- patients come out of the ‘typical’ clinical environment
- they are free to mentally switch off
- patients can relax and use positive living information,
and,
- they are able to talk to a social worker privately.
The new Cancer Centre at St. Vincent’s will incorporate many
of Paul’s ideals for modern cancer care, emphasising a holistic
approach to a patient’s cancer journey.
If you would like to help Paul and Martin raise funds for
St. Vincent’s Social Work Team, please call 0419542379 or
visit the website
[7
DAYS IN THE SAHARA WEB SITE] |
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Paul Gladwell (AUS-D491) and
Martin Edwards(AUS-D485) |
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