Sir Ranulph Fiennes Runs The Marathon des Sables

Update: 19:52 GMT, 10 April 2015

He's done it! Oldest Briton to complete the Marathon des Sables!

CONGRATULATIONS SIR RANULPH! He's completed the @marathonDsables - text RUN to 70007 to donate £5 #RunRanRun pic.twitter.com/oPWQZk1hbR

— Marie Curie (@mariecurieuk) April 10, 2015

Sir Ranulph is attempting to run The Marathon des Sables (MDS) to raise money for Marie Curie cancer care.

The Saharan Desert race covers 156 miles (251km) over six days, in temperatures of up to 50°C. If he completes the ‘toughest footrace on earth’, he will, at 71, be the oldest Briton ever to do so. That will be an impressive feat for someone who is fighting diabetes, has surmounted two heart attacks, and endured double heart bypass surgery.

MdS Competitors have to carry all their personal equipment, including sleeping bag. Over the years we’ve supplied Sir Ranulph with down gear on many of his expeditions, including The Coldest Journey, for which we made him the warmest sleeping bag we've ever made (perhaps the warmest sleeping bag ever).

Of course, although temperatures at night during the MdS can drop to freezing, something much lighter is required for the MdS. See our advice page on gear for the MdS