The idea of running the 2011 Sahara Race in Egypt started shortly after I completed the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM) in October 2010.

Although my body, and especially my feet, took a pounding running 250km through the Kalahari Desert, I had been bitten by the desert running bug. I wanted to experience more extreme running adventures and was looking for a next big challenge.

Ultimately, my decision to enter the 2011 Sahara Race was informed by the idea to once again use my participation in support of SANGONeT’s fundraising activities for 2011. In 2010 we crafted the “No Pain No Gain” fundraising campaign linked to my participation in the KAEM. We decided to be more ambitious this year and expand the focus and scope of the campaign by inviting five other NGOs to partner with us and share the proceeds.

I had already been reading about the Sahara Race while preparing for the KAEM. This, coupled with my general interest in the many fascinating features of the African continent, including the Sahara Desert, made it an easy decision - I was going to run the 2011 Sahara Race in Egypt!

I started the Sahara Race fitter, wiser and better prepared based on my KAEM experience. But a seven-day race through a desert in extreme conditions does not always follow the planned script. Pain presents itself in many ways…

Thankfully, I survived the challenges of the 2011 Sahara Race and the mighty Sahara Desert.

I crossed the finishing line shortly after 11h00 on 8 October 2011 in 52h38 in sight of the Pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

The Sahara Race was tough, very tough. It was also a very humbling experience. But because everyone suffers together, the spirit and camaraderie between tent mates, other competitors, organisers, medical staff and the support crew, make this a truly unique experience.

My words can’t do justice to this experience, but I have tried to capture it in a manner - three parts in total - which hopefully provide you with some insight into the race, the Sahara Desert and the meaning of it all - both personally, and to the work of SANGONeT and the South African NGO sector in general.

Part 1 covers the build-up to the Sahara Race, including my training and preparations, the “No Pain No Gain” fundraising campaign and the final countdown to the start.

Click here to read more.

Part 2 covers the actual race, with a day-by-day account of my experiences and observations from one sand dune and campsite to the next.

Click here to read more.

Part 3 covers my reflections of the people who made the race a special experience, the challenges of completing an extreme event of this nature and why I would do it all over again.

Click here to read more.

Although the Sahara Race is now something of the past, the “No Pain No Gain” race to R1 million is far from over. We still need more donations, and you have until 30 November 2011 to pledge your support.

Trust me, running through the Sahara Desert gave real meaning to our campaign slogan - “No Pain No Gain”!

Remember, all money donated will be shared between five NGOs at the forefront of development and community work in South Africa - SANGONeT, Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Starfish Greathearts Foundation and SCORE.

Please make a donation and encourage others to do the same.

I dedicate this story to my dad, David Botha Barnard (sr), who passed away on 12 October 2011.

May you rest in peace.

Greetings from Camp 6 ("Petanque") at the end of stage 5 ("Tethis Ocean March") of the 2011 Sahara Race.
 
What started at 07h00 on Thursday morning ended this morning at 07h00 - 24 hours later - when I crossed the finishing line after running 86.4 km.
 
With only a 2km "celebratory run"left for Saturday morning, I have officially completed the Sahara Race. What an amazing experience. Words can't describe the toughness of the race, the extreme conditions but also the beauty of this unque landscape.
 
This is not the time to write about yesterday's experience, but in summary we did 9 legs ranging from 8-11 km in length. Once again, the wind caused havoc with all runners, mostly blowing straight in our faces. The heat was more manageble, but the terrain was tough, with many soft sandy patches and big sand dunes. Spending 24 hours on my legs was no fun, and became very tough towards the end. My feet are badly blistered after yesterday and my legs are very tired.
 
But it is over and I can't wait to cross the "finishing line" at the Great Pyramid of Giza tomorrow morning.
 
I did most of the long run wearing the yellow armband of SCORE, and after midnight changed to the blue armband of TechSoup Global.
 
Remember to support the "No Pain No Gain" fundraising campaign - http://www.ngopulse.org/npng.
 
I would like to wish all the particpants in this year's Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon, starting tomorrow, the very best. Go Dirk.
 
Until next time in Cairo.
 
Regards
 
David

Greetings from camp 5 ("Half Moon") at the end of stage 4 (40.6km)
 
Made it in one piece in 7h45. Just feels amazing to be here. Another tough hot day, with the wind straight from the front for most of the day.
 
Now for the big one. After running almost 4 marathons in the past 4 days, tomorrow we take on 86.4km - a Comrades on tired legs! Tonight I'm getting rid of everything in my bag not needed tomorrow or on Friday.
 
My aim is to run/walk the firsr 50km to the rest camp, take a brake for a few hours, and then start running again in the late afternoon and finish somewhere on Thursday night / Friday morning.
 
My biggest challenge at the moment is my legs - badly sun burned yesterday and very sensitive in today's weather.
 
I have a few more blisters, but will be able to survive tomorrow - I hope.
 
I did today's run with the red armband of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) (http://www.ewt.org.za), and tomorrow it is the turn of SCORE (yellow armband).
 
Please support the "No Pain No Gain" fundraising campaign with a donation, and encourage others to do the same!!!
 
Once again thank you for all the messages and comments. Please keep them coming.
 
The next time I give you an update will hopefully be on Friday after the long run.
 
Wish me luck.
 
David

Welcome to camp 4 at the end of the third leg (official name Sea of Sand)..
 
Before commenting on today's run I just want to say happy birthday to my fantastc wife Dalene. I am thinking of you and the boys every step of the way. Miss you lots!
 
Today's leg covered 42.k km and it took me 8h00 to finish it.
 
It was a very tough day and from 27km onwards I had no strength and felt very tired. In addition, I thought I lost my heart rate monitor (it was in my back pack all the time), my watch died on the starting line, one of my tracking poles is not working any more, and I have a few very bad blisters.
 
So, enough said about today. Tonight I have to regroup for tomorrow's 40km before the long run on Thursday.
 
Thank you to everyone for the messages and comments. Please keep them coming.
 
After running with CANSA's pink armband today, tomorrow is the turn of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (red armband).
 
Remember to support the "No Pain No Gain" fundraising campaign - http://www.ngopulse.org/npng.
 
Until tomorrow
 
David

Greetings from Camp 3 ("Sea of Sand") at the end of the second leg of the 2011 Sahara Race.
 
I completed today's distance of 41.6 km in 7h08, 26th position overall for the day.
 
There is just one way to describe today's course (official name - "Through the Sand Valley") - brutal - in terms of loose sand and the heat (at least 40 degrees, but to be officially confirmed later today).
 
The morning started quite comfortable until the first water point (11.2km), but from 08h30 onwards it just bacame to hot to run. I still feel good, even after today's tough outing, but managing the next two days (42.6km and 40.4km) before the 86.4 km log run (stage 5 on Thursday), will be crucial to finish this monster of a race.
 
At the same time, there is a fine line between going slower and spending more time in this heat.
 
We finished today's leg with two massive climbs (the first covered approx. 2km and a 200m climb in soft sand, and then after a slight downhill on the other side, we finished with another 1km climb.
 
I used my tracking poles for the first time today and I'm very happy that they are in my back pack.
 
General observations:
 
- Health - no injuries, early signs of a blister or two, a few toe nails will be gone before the end of the race of soon thereafter;
- Clothing - my special Nike sleeping shorts / running pants are getting good attention!. They are also very comfortable. For the rest, we are all very dirty and dusty, and with no running water, Saturday's first shower after the race will be an amazing experience;
- Tent mates - we are 9 people in tent 11 - Geoff (South Africa), Lawrence (South Africa  Hong Kong), Patricia (Germany), Peter (Germany), Todd (Canada / Hong Kong), Kubu (Russia / USA), Aren (Holland / Singapore), Nigel (UK / USA), and me;
All runnners - great camaraderie and spirit between all runners.
 
On a lighter note, Geoff and I have been doing our very best to keep South Africa's name high. With our Springbok flag firmly planted between our sleeping bags in our tent, we are snoring everyone out of the tent at night - thus creating more space and a competitive advantage during the race!
 
I will not win this race, but given my reputation developed during last year's Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon, when it comes to snoring, everyone else is competing for second place, especially in dusty and sandy conditions such as the Sahara Desert!
 
Turning to the "No Pain No Gain Campaign", today was the turn of Starfish Greathearts Foundation in terms of profiles published on NGO Pulse, while I did today's run wearing the orange armband of Starfsh.
 
Tomorrow, the focus shift to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), one of the best known South African NGOs. CANSA has a proud history in raising awareness about the dangers of cancer and supporting cancer survivors.
 
Please support the "No Pain No Gain Campaign" and the work of CANSA by making a donation at http://www.ngopulse.org/npng.
 
I will be running tomorrow 's leg of the Sahara Race wearing a pink armband to highlight the unique work of CANSA.
 
Remember, there is nothing to gain without a bit of pain!
 
Until tomorrow.
 
David

The big day finally arrived this morning. At 07h00 we set off on the 37km first leg of the 2011 Sahara Race.
 
i am very pleased to report that I finished today's leg in 5h15 in 28th position overall. But it was tough, very tough. The heat and soft sand were much tougher than I ever expected. And the landscape is just amazing, oftern there is nothing, really nothing other than kms of flat sandy areas, then a few beautiful sand dunes spiced up the landsacape, before returning to flat, soft sandy areas.
 
More amazing, out campsite last night was next to the Northern Lake, a massive stretch of water in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The first leg was therefore called 'Traversing Ancient Waters'. The first 8km this morning followed the countours of the lake until the first waterpoint. After the waterpoint and crossing a small bridge, we then ran in the vacinity of the Southern Lake, at some point up to 34m under sea level. By this time the Sahara started showing its true colours, with temperatures of up to 42 degrees measured in some areas.
 
But I made it to the finish without any major problems - no blisters - just tired legs and sore feet from the hot sand.
 
Given the heat of today, and similar conditions expected over the next few days, the challenge is definitely going to be how best to manage running and walking in these conditions. This is going to get painful and I will have to take it very easy as of tomorrow. Already a number of runners will not continue after today.
 
Tomorrow will be a special day as I will wear the orange armband of the Starfish Greathearts Foundation.
 
So now that it is no longer just a rumour that I will be running through the Sahara, please take out your check book, your credit card or the cash under your bed, go to http://www.ngopulse.org/npng and make a donation in support of this great organisation and the 4 others which form part of the 2011 SANGONeT 'No Pain No Gain' fundrasing campaign.
 
The biggest donation will be rewarded with a bottle of Sahara sand (2011 vintage), personally autographed by myself. It might not be worth much, but be assured that it will travel far and with much effort!
 
Remember, "No Pain No Gain".
 
Until tomorrow from another hot sandy spot in the Sahara Desert.
 
David

(this blog was first published on 30 September 2011 on the SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign website)

Greetings from Cairo.

Participants in multi-day, self-sufficient, extreme desert footraces face many challenges. These include the heat, sand, injuries, blisters, tiredness, thirst, lack of comfort, etc.

But there is one challenge which ultimately could make or break your race - the weight of your backpack. Finding the fine balance between the overall weight of your bag, and the food and equipment required to get you through the race, could have a major impact on your ability to finish or not. If the bag is too heavy, you are going to use more energy to get through every day. If the bag is too light, meaning you have left behind important food and nutritional supplements, you might not be able to sustain the effort required over seven days, especially in temperatures as high as 50°C.

Ultimately, what every runner packs in his/her bag will be determined by personal preferences and daily nutritional requirements. Runners are only provided with water during the race - everything else required needs to be in your bag when the race starts on 2 October 2011.

According to the rules of the race, there is a standard list of compulsory equipment which every runner has to carry from start to finish (e.g. head lamps, sleeping bag, blister kit, etc.) In addition, every runner has to start with 14 000 calories of food and nutritional supplements for the entire race. Anything else in your bag is a personal choice of what will make the experience as comfortable as possible for the runner.

The preferred weight of a backpack is between 9 and 10kg for most runners, with some starting with less and others with slightly more weight. By the time I left South Africa on Wednesday evening, my backpack was weighing 10.4kg. This is at least 1kg too heavy for me in terms of feeling comfortable when running with a backpack.

So, my challenge before Sunday morning is to identify the correct items to be removed from my bag without compromising on my nutritional or equipment requirements for the race.

At the moment, I have the following items in my backpack:

• 7 x packets of GU Chomps Energy Chews
• 10 x sachets of GU Roctance Energy Gel
• 27 x packets of GU Electrolyte Brew
• 7 x packets of GU Recovery Brew
• 20 x GU Brew Electrolyte Drink Tablets
• 6 x Rehidrat Sport sachets
• 6 x PeptoPro Sport sachets
• 7 x sachets of Oats so Easy mixed with Protein (for breakfast)
• 6 x packets of cup-a-snack soup
• 6 x packets of salt and vinegar chips
• 6 x packets of biltong
• 7 x packets of Energade sweats
• 7 x packets of fruit and nuts mix
• 7 x packets of protein mix
• 6 x sachets of coffee / cappuccino
• 14 x Sporty bites
• 7 x dinner packs – beef / rice /noodles / smash
• 8 x pairs of socks
• 2 x Nike running shorts
• 2 x Nike running shirts
• 1 x Nike sweatshirt
• 2 x water bottles
• 1 x knife
• 1 x compass
• 1 x camera
• 1 x solar charger
• 1 x iPod
• 1 x sunscreen
• 1 x lip ice
• 1 x blister kit
• 2 x head lamps
• 1 x flashlight for back of backpack
• 1 x sleeping bag
• 1 x inflatable mattress
• 1 x emergency / space blanket
• 1 x emergency poncho
• 1 x head scarf / buff
• 1 x running cap
• 1 x insect net
• 1 x unit of Vaseline
• 50ml of Hand hygiene gel
• 1 x sewing kit
• 1 x cooking pot
• 1 x spoon/fork
• 1 x toothbrush and toothpaste
• 1 x packet of Voltaren tablets
• 1 x packet of Ponado pain tablets
• 10 x Imodium tablets

In addition, I will be using the following gear:

• 1 x pair of Nike Pegasus 26 trail running shoes
• 2 x gaiters
• 2 x tracking poles
• 1 x Garmin Forerunner 310XTwatch

As I have shaven off all my hair, at least I don’t have to pack a hairbrush!

So, while you sitting in your air conditioned office next week, sleep in your warm and comfortable bed, drink something nice and cold with lots of ice, take a nice warm shower twice a day and eat a properly prepared meal, please think of me.

I will be doing all the same things from the comfort of my backpack in the middle of the Sahara Desert - the hottest desert in the world - without any running water for seven days, and drinking and eating lots of powered stuff.

But then again, there is nothing to gain without a little pain!!

Remember to follow updates about the Sahara Race and the “No Pain No Gain” campaign on Facebook and Twitter (#SNPNG).

Also have a look at the following list of links associated with the Sahara Race and the “No Pain No Gain” campaign.

I will also be blogging every evening during the race. Just visit this link.

And please make a donation and encourage others to do the same!!

(this blog was first published on 28 September 2011 on the SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign website)

Yesterday afternoon I did my final training run in preparation for the 2011 Sahara Race. I only covered an easy 7km at a gentle pace with about 6kg in my back pack.

But it was a significant final outing as a ran down streets and through parks in my neighbourhood where I spent many hours preparing for the Sahara Race.

If felt like yesterday when I made the decision in January 2011 to enter the Sahara Race. Now, eight months later and after running more than 1 800km in preparation for the race, I’m ready to depart for Egypt this evening for what will be the most extreme challenge I have ever undertaken.

I have never questioned my decision to enter the race, but often thought about the challenges that the race will present me and the other participants - the heat, sand, tiredness, lack of comfort, blisters and luke warm drinking water, to mention just a few. And the pain!

I have experienced all these challenges and pain during last year’s Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon, so I have a good sense of what is waiting for me in the Sahara. But this will be a very different experience far away from family, friends and colleagues.

My training and running, linked to my SANGONeT work and travel commitments, have taken me to many corners of South Africa and the rest of the world. From running the Golden Gate Trail Half Marathon in February in San Francisco, to running for a week on the beaches and roads of Tagbilaran in the Philippines in March, to running the Bonn City Marathon in April, to a week of running through the streets and parks of Warsaw and the three-day Forest Run through the mountains and forests of George and Knysna in June, to running 200km on the beaches and gravel roads of Stilbaai as part of my eight-day “training camp” in July/August, to running 70km on beautiful beaches of the West Coast in September. In addition to this, I have run many marathon and half-marathon road races, and completed 84km in the Dawn to Dusk 12-hour race in Pretoria at the end of August 2011. Other than these interesting outings, there were many long and often lonely hours of training runs on hot summer days in the beginning of the year and cold winter days from May - July.

I have done most of my runs over the past three months with a back pack weighing between 5 and 7 kg, and wearing extra layers of clothes to create as much heat as possible in preparation for the Sahara.

Ultimately, regardless of my level of fitness and overall preparations, there are no guarantees that I will complete the race. Given past statistics, at least 30-40% of the 150 participants will withdraw before the end of the Sahara Race for medical or related reasons.

But I have done what is humanly possible in terms of training, on top of work and family commitments, to prepare myself to the best of my ability for the race and to overcome the unique challenges associated with running through the Sahara Desert.

The slogan of our fundraising campaign clearly states, “No Pain No Gain”, and with this attitude I will start an experience of a life time at 07h00 on Sunday, 2 October 2011.

Remember to follow updates about the “No Pain No Gain” campaign on Facebook, Twitter and the “No Pain No Gain” website.

And please make a donation and encourage others to do the same!!

(this blog was first published on 25 July 2011 on the SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign website)

The annual Discovery 702 Walk the Talk was held through the streets of Johannesburg on Sunday, 24 July 2011.

The event was first held in 2000 when it attracted 12 000 walkers. The 2011 event attracted more than 50 000 walkers, including Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau, current Miss South Africa Bokang Montjane, celebrities, politicians, dogs and former Olympian and retired swimmer Mark Spitz.

It is biggest mass sporting event in Africa and one of the biggest in the world.

Walkers had the option of participating in the 30km, 15km, 8km or 5km events.

The SANGONeT team participated in the 15km walk, with everyone finishing in approximately 3 hours. Some dipped under 3 hours, while others needed a bit more time to make it to the finishing line.

Kitted in our orange and black “No Pain No Gain” shirts, we participated in the event not only to have fun and “improve” the fitness levels of SANGONeT staff, but also to raise awareness about the “No Pain No Gain” campaign. Staff members talked to fellow walkers about the campaign and answered questions about how the public could assist us with our fundraising efforts.

On a beautiful sunny Highveld winter’s day in Johannesburg, it was a great event with much fun had by all.

To view our "Walk the Talk" photo album, click here.

The aims of the “No Pain No Gain” campaign are very complementary to the aims of the Discovery 702 Walk the Talk. Other than promoting a healthy lifestyle, the annual walk changes the lives of many others through numerous fundraising initiatives. Since 2006, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation has been the official charity of the event. Proceeds from the walk are used to fund various Laureus projects across South Africa.

In terms of my training, fortunately or unfortunately, walking 15km will not get me through the Sahara Desert in October 2011. So while most walkers were still enjoying something cold after the event, it was time for another 8km run home to round off a good week of training.

Remember to follow updates about the “No Pain No Gain” campaign on Facebook, Twitter and the “No Pain No Gain” website, and don’t forget to make a donation.

(this blog was first published on 18 July 2011 on the SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign website to coincide with Mandela Day)

Today is Mandela Day, an annual international day adopted by the United Nations in celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and legacy.  Mandela Day is a call to action for people to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time.

The Mandela Day campaign message is simple - “Mr Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community.”

In celebration of Madiba’s 93rd birthday, and as part of our outreach activities in support of the 2011 SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” fundraising campaign, all SANGONeT staff members travelled to Soweto this morning to support the Sunshine Association’s Early Intervention Centre.

The Sunshine Association is a nonprofit organisation committed to the development and inclusion of children with disabilities and delays - intellectual, developmental, physical. Its Early Intervention Projects in Craighall, Eldorado Park, Germiston and Soweto cater for children aged 18 months to 7 years.

Kitted in our new “No Pain No Gain” shirts, SANGONeT staff members cleaned the kitchen, created a vegetable garden - tomatoes, cabbages and carrots, and painted the walls and ceiling of a big classroom which in future will serve as a toy library.

Click here to see photos of SANGONeT staff members in the garden, cleaning windows, painting walls, etc.

Unfortunately, we were not able to interact with the kids as today is a cleaning day at the centre and they only return tomorrow morning.

However, as this was a meaningful exercise for all staff members, we will continue to visit the centre in future and support it to the best of our ability.

Experiences such as this one, and the sacrifices made by Nelson Mandela, will provide me with much inspiration while running through the Sahara Desert in October.

Happy birthday Madiba!

(this blog was first published on 13 July 2011 on the SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign website -  80 days to the start of the 2011 Sahara Race)

Today we are down to 80 days before the start of the 2011 Sahara Race.

The past few days have been extremely frustrating from a training perspective. I have been down with a bad flu bug and as a result, no running, just resting. It is interesting how a few days of no training quickly leads to a negative state of mind - will I be able to make up the lost time, can’t afford not to be on the road doing long training runs, etc.

At least the few days of no running have allowed me to concentrate on some related issues which will be keen to my successful completion of the Sahara Race and the overall implementation of the 2011 SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign.

Next week will be the first meeting of all the NGO partners involved in the campaign - Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Starfish Greathearts Foundation and SCORE. The objectives of the meeting will be to clarify our individual and collective responsibilities, and to strategise how best to ensure the success of the campaign from a fundraising and awareness-raising perspective.

One of the outcomes of the meeting will definitely be a detailed plan for keeping the public and our various stakeholders informed about the campaign and how best to follow and support it.

Yesterday, Good Morning Africa (Africa Magic Channel 114 on Dstv) broadcasted an interview with me, which was recorded a few weeks back, about SANGONeT's work in South Africa and other parts of Africa, as well as the 2011 "No Pain No Gain" campaign. Hopefully this media exposure will help us in generating significant interest in the camapign.

I have also used the past few days to reflect on the experiences of other runners which participate in desert races and various other extreme ultra-distance marathons. Although there is no “one size fits all” approach to these types of events from a training, preparation and equipment perspective, there is much to learn from their experiences to inform my own planning and preparations for the Sahara Race.

I have just completed reading “Why we Run - A Story of Obsession” by Robin Harvie. Other than covering the history of long distance running and “why we do it”, the book is ultimately about Harvie’s attempt to complete the Spartathlon in Greece - the world's toughest footrace with runners having to complete 246km in less than 36 hours. Since its conception in 1984, no more than 700 people have completed the Spartathlon.

And although Harvie failed in his attempt to conquer the Spartathlon - very few people succeed on their first attempt - his story is a very real and moving reflection of the dedication, sacrifices and long lonely hours on the road required in preparation for extreme sports events.

In the book, Harvie refers to Scott Jurek, one of the world’s best ultra-distance runners and winner of the Spartathlon in three consecutive years from 2006. Still dealing with the meaning and significance of running long distances, Harvie states the following:

“What Jurek can teach us is that the transformation we undergo in becoming ultra-distance runners involves a merging of consciousness and landscape, whilst offering up the possibility of going beyond the limits of our knowledge. The transformation is in the act of running itself, which turns running from a mode of travel - in its most limited form, of getting across the finishing line - to a mode of being.”

Much food for thought…I will definitely think about Harvie’s book and his experiences before, during and after the Spartathlon while running through the Sahara Desert in October.

Remember to follow updates about the “No Pain, No Gain” campaign on Facebook and Twitter (#SNPNG), and read my regular blogs which focus on the race, my preparation, the campaign, and the work of SANGONeT and the other organisations.

And don’t forget to make a donation and encourage others to do the same!!

(this blog was first published on 1 July 2011 on the SANGONeT “No Pain No Gain” Campaign website -  100 days to the end of the 2011 Sahara Race)

Exactly 100 days from today, I hope to cross the finishing line of the 250 km, seven-day Sahara Race...in sight of the Great Pyramids of Giza outside Cairo in Egypt.

If you are wondering why I would put myself through this - it is because I hope to raise significant amounts of money in support of SANGONeT and five other South African NGOs.

As if the heat, sand, blisters of running 250 km last year through the Kalahari Desert was not enough, I have decided to do it all over again...this time through the Sahara.

As part of SANGONeT’s 2011 “No Pain No Gain” Campaign campaign, I will be running the Sahara Race from 2-8 October 2011 through the Sahara Desert in Egypt.

My participation and ultimate completion of the race gives real meaning to our campaign slogan - “No Pain, No Gain”.

Preparing for, and successfully completing the race, is an important priority and key to the interest which we hope to generate in support of the “No Pain, No Gain” campaign.

Ultimately, however, it is the aims and objectives of the campaign which we hope will motivate our supporters to make a donation in support of the work we do.

In addition, my participation in the Sahara Race is not only to raise money for SANGONeT, but also to raise awareness and support for other NGOs at the forefront of development and community work in South Africa.

With this in mind, we will give five NGOs the opportunity to link their own fundraising and awareness-raising efforts to my participation in the race. Organisations which have already confirmed their participation include the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Starfish Greathearts Foundation and SCORE.

Their participation in the campaign, and the support which we hope to generate over the next few months, will make my running of the race and the overall “No Pain, No Gain” campaign a more meaningful and rewarding experience for myself and everyone who supports it.

Please follow updates about the “No Pain, No Gain” campaign on Facebook and read my regular blogs which will focus on the race, my preparation, the campaign, and the work of SANGONeT and the other five organisations.