MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay resident Nadia Arndt has been part of the team that has been organising the KAEM (Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon) for 19 years.

This year, however, she has entered to run the race to discover what it is like to actually run it as well as to help a very special friend.

The event starts on 20 October and can be followed by logging onto the website www.kaem.co.za and from there linking to the Facebook page for live updates.

The KAEM takes place over seven days and over a distance of 250km in the Kalahari Desert near the Augrabies Falls and the Orange River.

Day temperatures can reach 40C and it can drop to below 5C at night, presenting daunting challenges to the extreme athletes.

They have to carry compulsory equipment, food, clothing and a sleeping bag for the duration of the event and the organisers supply overnight camps, water and medical back-up.

Checkpoints are at every eight to 10km to look after and assist the entrants.

Nadia's inspiration to actually run the race came from her husband Estienne, who lost his foot in a motorbike accident in 1988. Today he lives life to the full as the result of the massive difference prosthetics have made in his life. 

Taking part in a parkrun using an everyday prosthesis is Dave Wright (centre) with friends Nadia and Estienne Arndt.

Unfortunately, the cost of running prosthetics is exorbitant.

Nadia got to know Dave Wright, who is 69 years old and lost his leg in a motorbike accident. Dave has achieved the milestone of running 150 parkruns, using an everyday prosthesis. 

With the assistance of Estienne's prosthetist and long-time friend, Allan Oates, a specifically designed prosthesis will be made for Dave. Funds to do this are raised through Backabuddy.

Nadia asks: "However big or small, please support my campaign to raise the funds needed for Dave's running prosthesis. See you in the desert."

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