Firefighter, Steve Clark from Howsham, near Brigg has raised £2,000 for LNAA after completing the Marathon des Sables, a 256km race across the Sahara Desert which is dubbed the ‘toughest foot race on Earth.

Asked why he wanted to compete in the race Steve said: “You only get one life and if you live it and truly test yourself one life should be enough.  Being my 40^th Birthday year, I wanted to find a race that would test myself to the limit.”

Steve’s achievement has raised an incredible £4,000 which he is splitting between ‘SOBS’ Charity and Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA).  He said: “To me it’s vital LNAA is available every hour of the day.   As a firefighter, we go to a lot of road traffic collisions where the Air Ambulance is needed when the casualties are in a serious condition.

“Ten years ago I was out on a training ride with friends and unfortunately we needed it when one of my friends crashed and needed care. Something I hope to never experience again. This donation is my way to help towards keeping the helicopter in the skies.”

Georgia Watson, Events Lead at LNAA said: “A big well done to Steve for completing this gruelling challenge.  It costs £8 million per year to keep our helicopter flying and our critical care cars operational but we receive no government funding. As a charity, we rely on the generosity of people like Steve to keep our doctors and paramedics operational, delivering pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill or injured people at the scene. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we receive.”

The Marathon des Sables is the stuff of legends – a truly gruelling multi-stage adventure in one of the world’s most inhospitable environments, the Sahara Desert. Completed in six days, running over 250 kms across endless sand dunes, rocky jebels and white-hot salt plains, carrying sleeping bag, 7 days-worth of food and whatever else is needed to survive on your back, it is an experience like no other in the world.

Back home, concentrating on running his Fitness Company, ‘Off That Couch Fitness’, Steve is nursing his sore muscles, but has now had time to reflect on his achievement.  He said: “The highlight was finishing and getting that medal after the last stage. My lowest point was getting sick on the longest day when we ran 56.5 miles. It was brutal getting through that day, it was 55 degrees, I was de-hydrated and did not have much food so I was low on energy.”