An inspirational wounded soldier from Wilmslow have returned this week from a gruelling ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert.
Martin Hewitt (33) was joined by David Barnes (37) and Stuart Doughty (43) who between them have raised in excess of £50,000 for charity.
The Marathon des Sables (MdS) has been dubbed by the Discovery Channel as 'the toughest footrace on earth' attracting elite runners from all over the world.
Competitors are required to carry their own supplies and equipment whilst running the equivalent of 5.5 marathons in 5-6 days in the Sahara heat, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees centigrade. The track consists of saltpans, desert-mountains and ruined towns. Then of course, there's the occasional sand storm.
Martin lost the use of his right arm when he received gunshot wounds to his chest, arm and foot whilst serving as a commissioned officer for HM Parachute Regiment in Iraq. Post-injury, he has gone on to reach some ambitious achievements. He has represented GB in the Paralympic Downhill Ski World Championships, he has reached the Geographic North Pole, he has summited some of the highest peaks in the world and he led the Walking With The Wounded Mt Everest 2012 team.
In Martin's latest venture, the Fieri Adaptive Grand Slam, he is leading the first disabled team aiming to climb the 7 highest peaks on the 7 continents and walk unsupported to the North and South poles.
Martin along with former England rugby union international player David Barnes and Stuart Doughty, trustee of the Bath Rugby Foundation and wealth fund manager for injured sportsmen, took on the Marathon des Sables to raise funds for three worthy causes: Restart, Help 4 Heroes, and Bath Rugby Foundation.
Martin Hewitt shares the challenges he and his team faced in this 'extraordinary race, for extraordinary people, in an extraordinary place':
Martin, you have a number of feats to your name. How did MdS differ to other expeditions?
MdS is a true test of endurance for so many varying factors and this year's event was particularly challenging as the volume of sand dune had reportedly increased considerably from previous years. Another testing factor was the temperature, which reached 48 degrees celsius during the week. Through rigorous preparation in the human performance lab with GSK, I had learnt that this high temperature environment would be particularly challenging for me personally as I found that my core temperature rises significantly due to the nerve damage in my paralysed right arm that prevents the right side of my upper body from sweating.
What was the course like?
Day 1 consisted of running up and over sand dunes the vast majority of the way. By 3pm I had started to suffer under the heat. Fortunately, I received great support from my team mates who helped to motivate me to complete the first stage.
Throughout the week we experienced a variety of terrains including jebels (small mountains), dried river waddies, and stony trails with yet more dunes. Luckily, despite what the organisers threw at us in the way of terrain, and nature in the way of heat, relentless banter and support from strong characters in tent 103 helped to raise moral in the evenings. This meant we could attack each stage as fresh as possible each morning.
Were there any injuries along the way?
Towards the end of the week I'd lost count of how many times, collectively, we had been sick, or how many blisters, Stewart and Kate [tent 103 companion from Create Health] had accumulated. If anything, this event proved that the human spirit, combined with determination can see people push past perceived boundaries.
Our surrogate sister Kate proved to be one tough little nut, driving on with blisters on her feet and her back, which brought her to tears on more than one occasion. Nonetheless, not once did the thought of quitting ever come to the fore and she always made time for a joke, often at her own expense. She found two new dads in the form of Chris and Stuart, a protective uncle in Big Barnsey and two big brothers in Adam and myself, who would vet the wolves, who came to prey around tent 103, seeking to catch Kate's eye.
What would you say was the toughest part?
For most, I think that the toughest part was day 4, a 50 mile race, which we finished in the top half of the field, despite our injuries (both pre-existing and those which we collected along our way in the Sahara). Then there were the checkpoints after dark, which seemed to go on and on. Together we spurred each other on to the end. We were lucky to have such great team morale. I don't think we would have made it in such good time without it.
Would you say all the pain, physical and emotional strain was worth it?
Absolutely! We have raised in excess of £50,000 for three very worthy causes and we have formed some great friendships along the way. We are overwhelmed with the amount of support that we received to get us to the start line and, ultimately, to the finish line.
We are particularly grateful to GSKHPL and to Skins who have been with us every step of the way.
Most importantly, we want to extend a massive thank you to all those who have sent messages and donated to charities that we were representing: Help For Heroes, Restart and Bath Rugby Foundation.
Does that mean that you'll be paying another visit to the Sahara in 2015?
It's definitely on my list. I see this event as one that any member of the disabled community should take on – not just with a view of completing, but competing. Next time I go, I'm going to take a disabled team to enter and finish in the top 10% of the field. It's simply a matter of time. Never quit!
Martin Hewitt founded Fieri Leadership & Development, a London based consultancy, with the objective to prove that, equipped with the right motivational skills and team empathy, individuals can reach the achievements that they set for themselves and for their teams.
A core ambition or the consultancy is to assist the sick and wounded in their rehabilitation process, and to help launch them back into the world of work.
The consultancy is built of a team of individuals who have demonstrated sheer determination in the face of adversity. Fieri have developed these men and women to become motivational speakers and leadership and development consultants.
To find out more about Fieri visit www.fieri.biz/leadership.
