Chris completes desert challenge
By Charley Morgan

1:15pm Wednesday 6th August 2008
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news..._challenge.php

A BROMHAM man has completed a gruelling 140-mile race through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to raise fund for the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Chris Todd, 31, managed to complete the race, which involved running about a marathon distance daily for six days, in just 28 hours and 46 minutes.

He has so far raised £4,000 for the Parkinson's Disease Society, but is still collecting money to help him reach his £5,000 target.

Mr Todd, a flight test engineer, said: "The race held a few surprises for me. I went there expecting to discover something about myself but in fact I discovered more about other people.

"There were some competitors who required far more determination and conviction to get through the days than the front runners - John Molly completed it on a prosthetic limb which took him 66 hrs. Truly inspiring.

"Sadly horrific blisters all round did not surprise anybody. Two brothers were withdrawn from the race on day two, as they had lost the skin from the balls and heels on their feet. "I got away with it very lightly - overall an unforgettable experience."

The race is called the Gobi Challenge and sees competitors carry all their supplies on their backs and spend nights living with nomadic goat and camel herders.

Mr Todd's step-grandfather had Parkinson's disease and the illness had a major impact on his family so he wanted to do something to help.

His training for the event saw him camp 10 miles from work so that he could run in every day carrying his backpack instead of driving from Bromham as usual.

He paid to take part in the event himself so every penny of sponsorship money he raised will be going to the charity itself. To sponsor Mr Todd visit www.justgiving.com/chris_todd_in_the_gobi.