Wyke Regis man offers to cross Sahara desert to raise £20,000
A WEYMOUTH man will face rugged terrain and scorching heat as he travels more than 150 miles through the Sahara desert.
Scott Henley, father of two from Wyke Regis, is taking part in the legendary Marathon de Sables (MdS) – a six-day ultramarathon to cross 156 miles of desert, making it one of the “toughest running races on Earth “.
Mr Henley on his first marathon in October last year, in the Lulworth Hills
On Sunday March 27, Mr Henley, 39, will begin his physically exhausting journey from Ouarzazate, Morocco, to raise £20,000 for his chosen Ugandan charity, the ASCAR (Action to Save Children and Their Rights) project. , of which he is an ambassador.
He said: “I used to play for Weymouth Football Club when I was young and ended up joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a physical training instructor after the birth of my eldest daughter.
“During my time in the RAF, part of my job was to organize charity challenges. Since leaving, I have continued to push myself to organize events, fundraising for different charities close to my heart.
“I completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours, cycled 1,000 miles around every Premier League football ground in under 10 days, participated in a charity fight, climbed the Mount Kilimanjaro, and now I’m taking on the biggest challenge yet.
“I’m going to run 156 miles across the Sahara Desert, a race called the Marathon Des Sables. A six-day event in searing heat, over the toughest terrain, carrying all my gear and food, and sleeping in a tent. It’s labeled “the hardest running race on the planet.”
He added: I have been an ambassador for the ASCAR project for a few years now and after several visits to Uganda I decided to help them raise enough money to build a new orphanage to support their projects.
ASCAR has already funded the education of over 80 children across Uganda, helped teenage mothers get back on their feet and given them hope, run football and netball teams for all ages, and now been able to set up chess and dance clubs.
Mr Henley running along the Esplanade at Weymouth
Mr Henley added: “I’ve seen the huge impact that’s been made over the years when people reach out to their hearts and give back. I hope that by hosting an event as crazy as this, the goal can be achieved and I can help the children get a new orphanage and support ASCAR’s projects.”
To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/scott-henley