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Royal Engineers Charity - Sahara Marathon
Marathon Des Sables
 
The 494 Marathon Des Sables Team
Initial Press Release - 10 September 2004

 

49 Sqn Marathon Des Sables Team

The Olympics are over for another 4 years, but for four members of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) another great sporting challenge is on the horizon. In April 2005 the Army Bomb Disposal Team known as ‘The 494’ (as they are in 49 Field Squadron (EOD) and there are four of them!) will enter the Marathon Des Sables. This race has gained a reputation as the toughest of endurance challenges in the most inhospitable of conditions. The team will spend six gruelling days of long distance running in the blistering heat of the Sahara Desert, running the equivalent of two full ‘normal’ marathons on one of the days.
 

The 494 are undertaking this challenge in order to raise funds for two very worthwhile charities, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Army Benevolent Fund. The 494 intend to keep going, whatever the hardships, to complete this challenge and raise money to help put a stop to child cruelty and to support soldiers, ex-soldiers and their families.

The hardest thing in the near future will be training for the extreme heat in the British Winter and anyone seeing four lunatics running dressed in desert clothing in the local area this winter should not be not be alarmed.

 
This event will be televised and the team are keen to get local corporate sponsorship to support this endeavour and the charity fund raising. Anyone who is interested in offering financial or material support of any description should phone Tim Barnard on (01223) 203640. Individual donations to charity for this event can be also be made in this manner or online at www.justgiving.co.uk/the494. All assistance will be greatly appreciated.
The 494 2005 Marathon Des Sables
 

You can support us online using the JustGiving website

 

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (www.nspcc.org.uk):
www.justgiving.co.uk/the494

Army Benevolent Fund  

The Army Benevolent Fund (www.armybenfund.org):
www.justgiving.co.uk/the494abf