By Mal Butler
A Newport charity worker is taking part in an epic challenge in the Sahara Desert.
Kate Couch, a runner and long-distance walker, works for East Cowes charity, MAD-Aid, and is in Morocco to do the Saharan Ultra Challenge, which involves two back-to-back marathons in the Draa Valley Friday and Saturday. She also has the option of doing one marathon (26.2 miles/42.2km) and one longer ultra-marathon 31-mile/50km route.
Kate, 48, is no stranger to long-distance events, and has completed the Brighton Half-Marathon, London Marathon, the London 2 Brighton 100km Ultra Challenge (62mile) and the North Downs 50km Ultra Challenge this year.
She said: “I hope my latest challenge will raise £1,000 for MAD-Aid. We run a community space in East Cowes, recycle medical equipment, and help Ukrainian refugees on the Island, as well as undertaking medical and disability-related projects in Eastern Europe, primarily Moldova.
“The money I raise will improve the lives of vulnerable babies at MAD-Aid’s latest project, renovating the neonatal unit at the main children’s hospital in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau.
“It is the only unit in the whole of Moldova where newborns with birth defects and congenital problems can have surgical procedures and rehabilitation.
“The neonatal unit has not had any significant investment since 1986 and is in a dilapidated state, with tiles falling off the walls, inadequate and outdated equipment, a ventilation system which hasn’t worked for many years, and poor electrics with exposed wires.”
You can sponsor Kate via iow.life/katemadaid.
Isle of Wight Observer