A marathon enthusiast from Teddington will run what is regarded as the ‘toughest footrace on earth’ for Ambitious about Autism, the national charity for autistic children and young people.
50-year-old Paul Evans, who grew up in Southampton before settling in south west London, is gearing up to run the MDS Legendary this week.
MDS Legendary is the flagship event of the international organisation, Marathon des Sables, that hosts several ultra-endurance footraces across the globe.
The race, which takes place over seven days in the Moroccan Sahara Desert, typically sees participants run a gruelling 250km. But this year, to mark the 40th anniversary of the event, those taking part can take on an extra challenge with a new distance of 270km to tackle.
Brave participants will set off on Sunday 5 April, and are expected to face high temperatures. On one of the seven days, runners can complete a 100km distance.
Paul, a seasoned marathon runner who has competed in various international races, was inspired to fundraise for Ambitious about Autism by his 12-year-old son, who was diagnosed autistic when he was three.
This is not the first time Paul has pushed his fitness levels to the test on behalf of Ambitious about Autism. In 2023, he ran the London Marathon in a knight costume, raising over £5,000 for the charity. Despite the stuffy, heavy costume and several painful blisters, Paul completed the race in an impressive 4 hours and 50 minutes, earning him the Guinness World Record for the fastest man to complete the event dressed as a knight.
Paul estimates he has raised around £10,000 for the charity in total through a number of physical challenges, including the Berlin Marathon.
To boost his fundraising efforts, Paul has set up a fundraising page which is open to donations. So far, he has raised over £2,200 for the charity, bringing him close to his target of £2,500.
Speaking ahead of the race, Paul said: “I’m feeling nervous but prepared for this challenge. I’ve never run an ultra-marathon before, so going from 0 to 270km, in the desert, at high temperatures, carrying 9kg of food and equipment is going to be very hard. But drive sits at the centre of everything I do. That is why I’m raising money for Ambitious about Autism, a charity dedicated to enabling autistic children and young people to reach their potential.”
Danae Leaman-Hill, Director of External Affairs at Ambitious about Autism, said:
“Paul’s dedication to improving the lives of autistic children and young people is inspiring, as is his drive to push himself to the limits in aid of our work. The funds and awareness he has raised over the years continue to play a key role in helping us deliver our vital services. We wish Paul the best of luck as he bravely takes on this enormous challenge, and will be keenly tracking his progress.”
For more information about Ambitious about Autism or to find out more about taking part in a challenge event in support of the charity’s work, please visit www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk or email fundraising@ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk.
