UK-based veterans’ charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) is fielding a team of 22 ultra-athletes who will compete in the 2026 Marathon des Sables (MDS) to raise funds for the armed forces community. Starting on April 3, 2026, the group represents the largest charity team in this year’s race and the biggest ultra-marathon squad ever fielded by the charity organisation.
The Marathon des Sables is a six-day multi-stage ultra-marathon through the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Often described as ‘the toughest footrace in the world’, the event requires competitors to be self-sufficient while tackling a 250km course.
The 2026 event marks the 40th edition of the MDS and coincides with the 15-year anniversary of WWTW. To commemorate the anniversary, participants in the ‘MDS Legendary’ will face a 100km ‘long day’ on the fourth day of the race.
The WWTW team includes currently serving armed forces personnel, veterans, and supporters. The 2026 line-up also features a record number of female ultra-runners competing for the charity.
Martin Lynn, Events Manager at WWTW, said “This year we have a record team taking on the MDS Legendary in aid of WWTW, which is incredible. Each runner has committed months of training and fundraising in preparation for the extraordinary challenge.
“The race will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience, but most importantly, the funds raised by our team will go towards directly helping veterans and their families through our specialised and tailored support programmes.”
The team includes Sheridan Lucas MBE, a serving member of the military, alongside veterans such as Dean Gilsenen, Ray Gilbey, Tomos Ireland-Life, Joe Lush, and Wes Lewis. Other members include Dan Connolly, Greg Dove, Jasmine Woodford, Patrick Vinters, Charlotte Rogerson, Thomas Guthrie, Nicolas Crabtree, Jamie Ings, Lee McCombie, Andrew Hooker, Jonathan Humphey, Andy Pantelli, Lloyd Simon, Will Pattinson, Jean-Pierre Helliwell, and Matt Hammond.
Walking With The Wounded is a non-profit organisation that provides support for ex-service personnel with complex needs across the UK. It delivers programmes focused on mental health, employment, and care coordination to help veterans transition back to civilian life.
According to the charity, the funds raised by the 22 runners will support bespoke face-to-face services for veterans and their families.
Since the first MDS in 1986, more than 30,000 people have completed the desert challenge.
www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk
www.marathondessables.com
