Everything Under The Sun: Five Brothers, The World's Most Grueling Marathon

Five brothers got together with their proud father, and all smartly dressed, too!

Meet the White brothers. Together they're a fivesome, composed of Stuart, Marcus, James, Christopher, and Henry. After their grandmother died in 2015, all five decided to run the MARATHON DES SABLES, a run across the Sahara, labelled the "toughest footrace on earth". Each of these brothers has chosen a cause, a charity, in order to bring awareness and provide support. James and Marcus are both running for mental health.

Now, the Marathon Des Sables is not your usual marathon. Not only is it staged in the Sahara Desert, but it's the length of several marathons, not just one. In total, the course covers 156 miles, all sand, taking place over the course of six days. On the third day comes the most excruciating leg, a total of 50 miles. All runners face terrific heat, strong enough to burn through the soles of most athletic shoes and limited water that must be rationed. They run the risk of heat injuries, blisters, muscle strain, heart strain, and dehydration. Add in the fact that only one in five competitors actually finish the race.

Although the brothers live on three different continents, they have gotten together during the last five months to train. They've been planning to run as a team, giving each other support along the way. They credit their grandmother's wish for a closer family connection for helping to keep them together. Marcus said, "Even before the race has started, we've developed a sort of 'connective tissue'. We've communicated more in the last four months than over the previous ten years."

Then there are also the charitable causes, to which the brothers are calling attention through their efforts, that maintain their motivation. Marcus is supporting Beyond Blue, a mental health organization in Australia. Marcus identifies with its aim to open conversations about depression and anxiety, "For me, it's definitely personal. People don't openly talk about it until you start talking about it, and then it's amazing how it unravels and you find out how many people you know are suffering from it....[I]t's not a bad thing to share...[Y]ou don't have to be proud not to talk about these things."

Younger brother, James, is supporting the INTERNATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH ORGANIZATION (IMHRO), or One Mind Institute. He likes that this organization is focused on developing preventive treatments for psychiatric illnesses. James said, "If we could get to a step before illness develops, which is understanding how the brain works and how we can effect treatment before it ever happens, that for me is a Utopia."

The other brothers are also supporting their selected causes - Stephen is running for the Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation (UK); Christoper is running in support of the Alzheimer's Society (UK); and Henry is supporting Guide Dogs For The Blind (UK).

Running on the beach prepares leg muscles for desert sands.

It has taken a lot of training and stamina even to approach the start line, with the race having started on April 10. The race has already been completed. Did they all make it? I leave it to you to find out.