Since Ironman Kalmar last year, We've been searching for the next big challenge — and our next opportunity to raise vital funds for the Catherine McEwan Foundation.

 

Well… We found it. In April 2026, We be taking on the Marathon des Sables — widely known as the toughest ultra-marathon on the planet.

Equal parts excited and terrified, Derek McEwan & Gary Rea have thrown themselves into training all summer. With just over five months to go, the schedule is relentless — early mornings, endless miles, and a growing sense of purpose pushing us forward.

 

We’re just two ordinary lads of a certain vintage — not natural athletes by any stretch — but with grit, determination, and a bit of luck, we’ll fight our way across the Sahara’s scorching sands, through 50°C heat, all to raise vital funds for the Crohn’s & Colitis community.

 

What is the Marathon des Sables?

 

The Marathon des Sables (MdS) is legendary — a six-stage, seven-day, 250 km (156 mile) ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert.

 

Competitors must be completely self-sufficient, carrying all their own food and gear, with only water provided at checkpoints and a shared tent at night.

 

It’s a battle against heat, exhaustion, and the limits of human endurance — across dunes, rocky plateaus, and endless horizons.

 

Every step will test us. Every mile will mean something. But our pain is nothing in comparison to those we are trying to help.

 

Please support and follow our journey as we take on Marathon Des Sables - The Ultimate Challenge — all to make a difference for those living with Crohn’s and Colitis. (IBD)

 

More news and updates to come on how you can get involved… but for now — let's go