In 2016, Alex St John volunteered as an Assistant Teacher at Christel House South Africa. It’s an experience he'll never forget. "I saw first-hand the real impact that Christel House provides." On March 26, 2022, Alex will be running the Marathon de Sables – a six-day, 251 km ultra-marathon across the Sahara Desert in support of the students. "With the cheerful faces of the children it was hard to picture the conditions they live in on a daily basis,” he remembers, “making the work of Christel House even more spectacular.” It inspired Alex to support the school. “My aim is to raise enough to bring six students through a year of school, one child supported for each marathon of the race,” he says. The grueling run will take place on the Sahara Desert’s sand dunes, with temperatures reaching up to 135 degrees during the heat of the day. Runners must carry all belongings including food, water, and essential supplies. They will camp at race checkpoints. Alex promises to show his progress as he prepares for the marathon. “I will be tracking my training through Strava (an app for runners and cyclists) and posting updates on my Instagram account at alex_marathondessables.”
Lord Anthony St John (Alex’s father) is a Board member of Christel House Europe. We are grateful to the St John family for their multi-generational support of Christel House students.
You can help support Alex’s fundraising effort – make a gift today at: