Two Liberty Leasing colleagues are preparing to swap spreadsheets for sand dunes as they take on one of the toughest endurance races on the planet.
Dan Randall (main picture, left) and Ed Ockleford (main picture, right) will tackle the Marathon des Sables Legendary 2026, a 250km ultra-marathon across the Sahara Desert, to raise money for Fareham-based charity Sophie’s Legacy.
Travelling to Morocco on 3 April, the pair will begin the seven-day race on 5 April, facing extreme desert conditions where daytime temperatures can hit 45°C before plunging close to freezing overnight.
TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH
Often described as the toughest foot race on earth, the Marathon des Sables is a fully self-sufficient event, meaning competitors must carry all their food, clothing and equipment on their backs for the entire journey.
Both runners have experience in trail and ultra-distance events, but the Sahara challenge will be their toughest yet. The 2026 race also marks the event’s 40th anniversary – and Ed’s own 40th birthday, which he will celebrate somewhere among the dunes.
The challenge is being undertaken in support of Sophie’s Legacy, Liberty Leasing’s Charity of the Year. The Fareham-based charity was founded in memory of Sophie Fairall, who was diagnosed with the rare childhood cancer rhabdomyosarcoma aged nine and sadly passed away a year later.
Sophie’s Legacy now works across 12 hospitals and 40 wards along the south coast, helping improve the hospital experience for children and families. Its work includes feeding parents, supporting play specialists, improving training to help recognise childhood cancer symptoms earlier and campaigning for greater research funding.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Ockleford, Head of Technology at Liberty Leasing, says: “I’m proud – and slightly nervous – to be taking on the MDS Legendary with Dan this April in support of our Charity of the Year, Sophie’s Legacy. We’re doing this to support a charity that is making a real difference closer to home… Let’s do this!”
The pair are encouraging the finance sector, business community and local supporters to back the challenge and help raise funds for the charity.
Donations can be made via JustGiving HERE.
Mortgage Soup revealed last week how conveyancing boss Jonny Palmer, managing director of Convi, was also taking part in the event to raise funds for the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter.
He told Mortgage Soup: “I decided to take on this challenge just five months ago and it has already changed my life. I’ve thought about it every single day, multiple times a day.
“As a way for me to contribute outside of the race, any client that instructs Convi for their conveyancing during the time I’m running (3rd – 10th April) we will be donating £100.
“This has given me another level of reason ‘why’ and something that is greater than just myself.”
