A London journalist who grew up in Ashburton has begun an epic personal battle to complete a gruelling 150 mile charity marathon across the Sahara.
Kate Spicer, 36, started the seven-day Marathon des Sable in Morocco on Sunday, an event described by the organisers as the toughest foot race on earth. In temperatures reaching 50?C (120?F) she and 200 others will run across a wilderness of sand and rocks, carrying almost everything they need on their backs. The organisers warn the heat and distance will 'trash your feet and may cause severe trauma'. Some stages are so long it will mean running overnight in the desert. Miss Spicer spoke to the Advertiser about her private reasons for attempting such an extraordinary feat. 'Basically I did it to stop drinking. I really needed something to turn my life around, the job of a newspaper hack can be a less than healthy one at times,' she said. 'I'm also running to raise £25,000 for Mencap as my brother Tom, who is 34, is mentally handicapped. Although he is very happy now living at Bystock Court, Exmouth, there have been times in the past when he was living elsewhere that he was abused by those who should have been caring for him. 'The many hours I've spent training have given me plenty of time to think about that.' Miss Spicer began the transformation from self-confessed party girl to super-fit runner last summer but she found her West London home uninspiring. Instead she returned to her childhood home where she trained with the family dog, Clio, at her side. 'Running in London is so boring but on Dartmoor you can really get up some great distances,' she said. 'I used to think that the drive from Ashburton to Tavistock was a long way but knowing I can run that now is amazing.' Miss Spicer said her new found fitness had transformed her outlook on life and was commissioned to write about her experience for The Times. Although she still enjoys a touch of the high life she said her darker days are now behind her. 'All that energy I used to spend on dealing with hangovers I can now put into organising phenomenal fundraising parties for Mencap,' she said.