Solihull man first to take on 310-MILE desert run for charity

A former soldier from Solihull will become the first man to take on a gruelling 310-MILE run in the blistering 55 degree desert heat to raise money for charity.

Gavin Sandford, 42, will take on the Marathon Des Sables – but will first pound the previous year’s 250km route in the Sahara Desert – before joining the 2016 run which is another 250km.

It’s the first time a runner has taken on the gruelling double task and Gavin, now an Anaesthetic Practitioner at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston, aims to do it all in 12 days from 3rd April.

The Marathon Des Sables is reputed to be the hardest multi-day race in the world.

All funds from the two-week charity venture will go towards specialised rehabilitation equipment at the QE, as well as funds for Blesma the limbless veterans charity, and Team Margot, a charity set up by the family of Margot Martini, from Wolverhampton.

Gavin has been getting into shape by rising at 4am every day to run just under nine miles to work from his Solihull home with a 10kg back pack, while also spending countless hours in the gym and cycling.

He said: “I’ve heard a lot about this challenge, and the Discovery Channel has called it the toughest footrace on earth.

“I’m really looking forward to April when I’ll be heading to Morocco to start this feat, which really is so exciting to me on a personal level.”

In 2014 he was inspired to take on a 1,200 mile solo run covering 45 marathons in 45 days from Land’s End to John O’Groats, while also pushing a 50Kg barrel carrying donations, which only got heavier as more money was put into it.

“The inspiring courage and the ‘I can and I will’ attitude that I have seen in my life both in the military and also in my day to day work at the hospital is what inspires me,” he added.

In 2014 Gavin set up I Can and I Will where he supports charities close to his heart by taking on a series of extreme challenges involving his love of sports and adventure.

He said: “I really call on the public to help these two wonderful causes, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity, Blesma Limbless Veterans Charity and Team Margot.

“I will be keeping all my supporters up to date with regular updates as they follow my toughest challenge yet.”

* For further information: www.ICanandIWill.co.uk

Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/solihull-runner-first-take-310-11036513