British Teen Aims to Become Youngest to Complete Sahara’s Marathon des Sables, Raising Funds for MS

Raff wants to follow in the footsteps of his father Ted Jackson, a veteran of the Marathon des Sables, who managed to raise more than £150,000 for the Fight Multiple Sclerosis program. The teenager aims to run the entire Marathon des Sables (250 km) to help the same program. In 2009, his mother Sophie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and is following the Fight Multiple Sclerosis program, reports The Good Men Project.

"It’s a horrible disease that affects the brain’s main functions. However, my mother is following the Fight MS program, which has helped her a lot in recent years. It has helped us so much as a family. So I want to raise as much money as possible for Fight Multiple Sclerosis, to thank them for what they’ve done for me and my family," said Raff. He also wants to prevent the disease because his grandmother also suffers from it. "I have a higher risk of developing the disease. All I want to do is raise as much money as possible to improve the lives of young people," he says.

Ted will accompany his son throughout the Marathon des Sables. A challenge that impresses Grazina Berry, CEO of the Fight MS program. "One of the pillars of the Fight MS program is the prevention of MS in family members through healthy lifestyle choices, including exercise and movement. It’s inspiring to see a young person take this message to heart, while also giving back to the charity and providing a true example of commitment and gratitude to others.