Ex-Rotherham teacher’s desert marathon effort

AFTER years of teaching school children about the Sahara Desert, Iain Winterbottom is in the thick of its blistering heat for a charity “ultra-marathon”.

Fundraiser Iain Winterbottom (28), a former Geography teacher at Wales High School, has moved abroadbut is still taking on the huge charitable effort for the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice to continue to support children.

Iain moved to Abu Dhabi last September due to his wife’s work commitments but is spending this week taking on the 156-mile Marathon des Sables in the biggest desert in the world.

The challenge lasts for seven days, with one day alone requiring participants to run for up to 50 miles.

When asked why he wanted to take part in the marathon, Iain said: “I was always involved with the fundraising efforts for Bluebell Wood, particularly through the staff band and with my sixth form tutor group.

“Working with young people on a daily basis and knowing the work the hospice does, it seems only appropriate to continue my support even though I am not currently in the country.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/iainandwaynerunthemds/