Harry Harron, from Ireland, and Simon Saunders, from Britain, had been competing in what is known as the toughest foot race on earth: the Marathon des Sables (MdS). They were welcomed back to Budapest on Tuesday (13 April) at a surprise reception of friends, supporters and sponsors at Le Meridien hotel.

Having finished in the top 50%, the two men looked tired and sunburned, but surprisingly fit. They said they had faired much better than some. “There were people in much worse shape than ourselves, people on crutches,” said Harron. Saunders described competitors walking in sandals because they could no longer get their feet into their boots.

Both described the challenge as an “amazing experience” and said they had learned a lot about goal setting, persistence, and determination, things they could carry through into their personal lives. “It is remarkable seeing how the mind takes over from the body and pushes you along,” added Saunders.

There are no immediate plans to repeat the MdS. “In some of the earlier stages we might have pushed a little harder, but then we were trying to hold something back for the longer later stages, where we did really well; overall, I’m very pleased with our performance,” said Harron. “I have never experienced pain in my feet like it, to the extent that almost everyone was on pain killers,” he added.

The challenge covered 250km (155 miles), which equates to about five-and-a-half marathons, and was run across the Sahara Desert over six days. Competitors had to carry with them food, clothes, medical kit, sleeping bag, in fact everything they needed for the duration, apart from water and a tent. (Water was rationed and handed out at each checkpoint, and the athletes slept in communal tents.) The two men were the only Hungary-based entrants from an international field of 800, and the first for five years.

The Marathon Effort For SOTE II aims to raise at least €50,000 to construct mother and child distance trauma units to assist the recovery of critically ill child patients coming from the borders of Hungary. Around 54% of that target has already been reached.

Family, friends and sponsors were able to keep up-to-date with the exploits of the two men via their blog, a facebook group and the Robert Burns International Foundation site, which is ensuring the money goes where it can be of most help. It is still possible to donate to the cause: details of how to do so are on the various websites.

Press release prepared for the Robert Burns International Foundation and Marathon Effort For SOTE II by Robin Marshall, Devil's Advocate Communications.