"Running for Hope: 250km Across the Sahara Desert (MDS25)

GoFundMe: Marathon des Sables - Legendary 39th Edition, April 2025

Supporting Hope House & A Lust for Life

Hope House: www.hopehouse.ie (Charity No. 20028718).

A Lust for Life: www.alustforlife.com (Charity No. 20157913).

Marathon des Sables: www.marathondessables.com

Iron Mind Institute: https://ironmindinstitute.com/imi-mds/

Hi everyone,

I’ll be competing in the World’s Toughest Footrace the Marathon des Sables (MDS) Legendary 39th Edition, a brutal 250km ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert. Over six days, I’ll carry everything I need on my back, enduring extreme heat, exhaustion, and mental challenges. But this journey isn’t just about pushing my limits—it’s deeply personal.

I’m running in memory of my mum, who passed away in November 2023 at the age of 66.

My Mum’s Story

Mum was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in her late 30s, after raising six children. Her life was shaped by struggles with addiction, mental health challenges, and the realities of living with her diagnosis. Through my mum’s battles with mental health and addiction, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about the importance of resilience and compassion in facing life’s challenges. Her experience taught me that recognising the need for help and having the courage to seek it are the first steps toward healing. These lessons have shaped who I am today and fuel my determination to help others facing similar struggles.

In her honor, I’m raising funds for two incredible charities:

Hope House, Foxford, Co. Mayo – A place that changed my life.

A Lust for Life – A charity dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and early intervention.

My Own Journey to Hope House

After retiring from a 17-year professional rugby career in June 2018, I found myself facing my own struggles. The structure and intensity of rugby had masked the childhood trauma I carried for years. Alcohol had always been part of the culture, and binge drinking became my way of coping with the highs and lows.

I saw firsthand how addiction impacted my mum and our family, and I knew I was heading down the same path unless I made a change. The thought of damaging my relationship with my two young boys was the wake-up call I needed.

In October 2018, just three months after retiring, I entered Hope House. Those five weeks, followed by two years of aftercare, completely transformed my life. I gained the tools to confront my emotions, heal, and thrive. Now, over six years sober, I’m committed to helping others find the same hope and support that I did.

Why These Charities?

✅ Hope House: My goal is to raise €50,000, which will provide treatment for 10 people. For someone battling addiction, this could be the life-changing intervention they need, just as it was for me.

✅ A Lust for Life: Mental health awareness and early intervention are critical. Through my work with rugby teams and schools, I’ve seen how vulnerable young people can be. A Lust For Life is a youth mental health charity that aims to empower and educate our young people through early preventative mental health programmes and I’m proud to support their mission.

How You Can Help?

I need your support to make this challenge truly meaningful.

Donate – Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.

Share – Spread the word to help me reach my goal.

Sponsor – If you or your company would like to support me, please reach out.

Together, we can create real change and offer hope, healing, and support to those who need it most.

Thank you for reading my story—let’s make a difference together.

With gratitude,

Christian

Follow my journey on social media for updates on my training and the race!