Essex join East Anglia Provinces support for Marathon Des Sables challenge

The Masonic Provinces of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Essex came together to support Cambridge Children’s Hospital

Edward Tollemache, the King’s godson has just completed the Marathon Des Sables - a six-stage, back-to-back endurance event in the desert, with daily distances ranging from 30 km to 90 km. It is a monumental challenge, both physically and mentally.

Edward asked for help to raise money for the appeal to build a new children’s hospital at Addenbrooke’s. Having exceeded his original goal of £10,000, the Provinces decided to contribute a joint donation, which helped take the total to over £50,000—far exceeding what he had planned to raise when he started the challenge.

The new hospital is being co-designed with the help of young people, families, and healthcare professionals. Wherever possible, facilities will be jointly integrated, recognising the fact that many children and young people with mental health conditions also have physical health conditions, and vice versa. It will support children from across the East of England.

This will enable the hospital to provide better and safer age-appropriate care in high-quality, fit-for-purpose facilities that meet the needs of children, young people, and families. Their goal is to develop a joined-up model of care that fully integrates physical and mental health, combined with research into the prevention and early diagnosis of disease. They aim to provide the very best care for children and young people aged 0–18, including those with cancer.

Edwards explains his passion for distance running and raising money for the hospital,

“I discovered ultra-marathons about 10 years ago, prompted by a friend of mine who suggested a Lake District challenge up and down 10 peaks and over a distance 33 miles. This was followed by a similar race in the same area but over 55 miles. Ever since then, I’ve enjoyed running long distances and preferably in remote areas. The Marathon Des Sables (MDS) is 6-day back-to-back race across 250 miles of the Sahara desert and has been on my bucket list for a while. As soon as I felt I could fit this around work and family life I knew I had to do it. It could also be seen as a classic mid-life crisis but at least it’s a healthy approach to turning 50 next year. 

I described approaching a long distance run in the desert as one requiring perseverance and resilience. Two attributes I know the children benefitting from the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital will need more than me. It’s going to be a unique, one in a kind facility built from scratch in Cambridge and I’ve now raised £53,000 thanks to the generosity of so many kind friends and family. This inspired me to complete the MDS and I managed to finish just outside the top 10%. It was a gruelling challenge across miles of soft sand, rock and dunes. We had intense heat, rain and sandstorms. But I’m thrilled to have completed it and for now don’t have anything lined up for a while!”

If you would also like to support him and leave a message, please donate at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/edtollycch

Or you can view a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD6Xa2jtkpU

Photo

Top: Edward prepared for the marathon