Respite provided by Haven Centre in Highlands for young people with complex motivates trainee solicitor to take on 250km Marathon des Sables
A trainee solicitor is preparing to attempt what is known as “the toughest foot race on earth” in aid of a Highland charity helping young people with complex needs.
Catherine Prendergast (26) will be one of the youngest entrants who will spend seven days taking part in the Marathon des Sables The Legendary for the Elsie Normington Foundation.
Alongside her brother, Michael (29), she will run a total of 250km across the sand dunes of the Moroccan Sahara Desert.
Their brother, Andrew (23) has autism and Down Syndrome and receives respite care once a month from the foundation’s Haven Centre located in Inverness.
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The pair are part of a family of seven children from Fort Augustus and two years ago, another brother, John, completed a cycling challenge the length of Africa in support of the Haven Centre.
Aged 19 at the time, he endured soaring temperatures, sickness and exhausting days along the 5400- mile route.
Catherine, a trainee solicitor in the Knights commercial team in Oxford, will begin her journey to the Sahara Desert on April 2 for kit and medical checks before lining up on the start line alongside 1000 competitors from across the globe on Sunday April 6.
They run 250km across the desert in six stages, the longest being mid- race, a mammoth 85.3km ultramarathon running through the day and night.
While the challenge will see the competitors spend seven days out on the course, they will spend a total of nine days in the desert and will be completely self-sufficient.
Not only will Catherine have to battle temperatures of 40C, sandstorms and navigating her way to the finish line by compass, she will also have to carry a backpack containing everything to survive including a sleeping bag, food and cooking equipment.
She will be one of only an estimated 200 Britons set to take part and will be one of the youngest competitors in the entire field, the average age usually being about 50.
When the former Royal Air Force (RAF) cadet signed up for the event, she had never run a marathon.
But she has been training for the past six months, enduring harsh winter mornings and an extreme training schedule in the hope of raising £5000 for the Elsie Normington Foundation.
She and Michael have set up a JustGiving page as part of their fundraising efforts.
In less than two months, she had an ultra-marathon (50km) under her belt.
“Training through winter has been gruelling,” she said.
“Pushing myself out the door at 5:30am into a void of darkness and torrential rain to get the miles in before work has been one of the most challenging aspects.
“My old school motto was ‘Plus est en vous’ (there is more in you) and this is certainly a phrase that has been on repeat in my mind over the past few months in moments when my body could so easily have given up.”
She said the real drive to be a finisher in the event was to raise money for the Elsie Normington Foundation.
“My younger brother Andrew has Down Syndrome and everyday tasks are a huge challenge for him. He is non-verbal and will never be able to enjoy the prospects of opportunities that Michael and I are presented with,” she said.
“Andrew currently spends one night a month at the Haven Centre run by the charity and as much as he loves his time there, it also gives my parents a break from the 24/7 care he requires.
“With the help of donations, this charity will be able to continue to grow and help more young adults like Andrew.”
James Christacos, client services director at Knights, said the level of dedication and discipline she has displayed in training for this challenge alongside working towards her training contract at Knights was incredible.
“We will all be following Catherine’s progress through the desert, cheering her on every step of the way, and would like to wish her the very best of luck,” he said.
Elsie Normington, founder and chairwoman of the foundation, said the charity was deeply touched and inspired by individuals like Catherine and Michael.
“Their selfless efforts help us continue to expand our services and support, making a real difference in the lives of children, young adults, and families facing complex special needs in the Highlands,” she said.
