Walking With The Wounded and Community Channel broadcast Run The Sahara, a documentary following the WWTW team’s run of the 2015 Marathon Des Sables.

20 October 2015: Imagine a 250km six day race across the Sahara desert carrying all that you need to survive on your back and competing against over 1,300 racers from all over the world - welcome to the Marathon des Sables, the toughest footrace on earth.

The charity Walking With The Wounded enlisted an inspirational team of runners including wounded ex-servicemen and fundraisers – including Olympic skier Graham Bell and rugby league legend Keith Senior - to compete in the 30th Marathon De Sables, all to raise money to support wounded veterans back into employment and regain their independence.

We follow their epic adventure as they push their bodies to the limit, as they live and compete in the treacherous terrain of the Sahara desert.Away from the creature comforts of modern living, these brave men and women must work as a team to support each other through the highs and lows as they race the Sahara.

Walking With The Wounded is a charity established to support the employment aspirations and vocational outcomes of our wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, those who have been physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged by their service.

Walking With The Wounded and Community Channel teamed up to produce this film, which was made possible due to the efforts of volunteers from the media industry including producer Karen Chambers and cameraman Paul Harris, along with the efforts of the WWTW team, Cimbaly International and the Community Channel team.

As the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month approaches, the attention of the world turns to Armistice day and those who gave their lives for Britain. It's a time to remember the contributions of our forces who continue to put their lives on the line and those who find themselves injured in the line of duty.

Ed Parker, Co-founder and Chief Executive ofWalking With The Wounded said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Community Channel and everyone involved in producingRun the Sahara.The film will show viewers first hand the extraordinary lengths our fundraisersgo to, to raise funds for our wounded."

Alex Kann, Director of Community Channel said: “We are thrilled to be broadcasting Run The Sahara, a film that shows the incredible resilience and strength of the Walking With The Wounded team as they ran the toughest footrace on earth. The race defeats many who start it - so the achievement of the WWTW runners, including war veterans who have lost limbs, is truly inspirational."

Run The Sahara premieres on Community Channel on Thursday 12th November at 9pm. It will be repeated on Wednesday 18th Nov 10pm, Tuesday 24th Nov 11pm, Friday 4th Dec 9pm, Thursday 24th Dec 10pm, Friday 25th Dec 7.45pm.

THE TEAM:

Keith Senior - An ex- rugby league legend, recently retired from the professional game. He represented both Great Britain & England at International level. Built like a tank, and after 18 years in the game, he misses the challenge of it all. After retiring from injury and finding himself at a crossroads in life, he embarked on a series of endurance challenges for charity. This time, he's signed up for the ultimate challenge. He says this is his way of giving back to injured service personnel.

Graham Bell - A British Olympic skier, TV presenter, adventurer and journalist who continues to be regarded as one of the finest downhill skiers the UK has ever produced, having claimed the title of 'Ski Champion of Britain' on eight occasions during his career. He says if wounded service personnel can take on the toughest foot race on the planet, then he ought to be able to give it a go himself.

Ibrar Ali ('Ibi') - Served in the British Army as an Infantry Officer in The Yorkshire Regiment for almost 12 years. Ibi, as he likes to be known, was injured by a roadside bomb in 2007 when his right arm was amputated below the elbow. He counts himself as lucky and was able to return to frontline duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. No stranger to adventure, he was part of the successful Walking With the Wounded expedition to the South Pole in 2011. This time round, he's pushing his body and mind even further.

Mark Wise- Originally from Colorado, Mark served as an infantry officer in the First Battalion, Twelfth Infantry Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division, and Red Warriors. During his time in Afghanistan in 2009 Mark was injured by an IED.The entire front half of his body armour was blown off his torso yet the equipment managed to protect his chest and stomach during the blast. His mission is to increase public awareness and fundraising for needed services for returning veterans.

James Watson – With a career spanning 14 years, James works in the army as a physiotherapist and is keen to combine his interest in adventure pursuits with helping wounded ex-army personnel. No stranger to adventure, he's tackled the Himalayas and ultra-races in the Scottish Highlands. Pushing his boundaries even further, in addition to training for the Marathon De Sables, he is also preparing to climb Mount Dhaulagiri in 2016.

Notes to Editors:

About Walking With The Wounded

Walking With The Wounded is a charity established to support the employment aspirations and vocational outcomes of our wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, those who have been physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged by their service.

WWTW recognises the inherent skills of our armed service personnel and wants to compliment these qualities, as well as provide support to transfer their skills into the civilian workplace. We offer assistance through our programmes to those vulnerable veterans who have been physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged by their service and assist them in gaining independence through new long term careers outside of the military. This includes providing support to homeless veterans and veterans in the Criminal Justice System, areas which are too often ignored.

The outcome? Sustainable employment, and independence for them and their families.

www.wwtw.org.uk

About Community Channel

Community Channel is the only TV channel for communities, charities and the brilliant people who make the U.K. a better place for us all. Community Channel broadcasts on Freeview HD 63, Sky 539, Virgin 233, freesat 651, streamed on TV Player and TVGuide and available on-demand through BT TV, YouTube, BBC iPlayer and the channel's website. Twelve million people watched the channel last year. Viewers learn more by watching the channel and are motivated to do more for others.Community Channel is a Media Trust initiative, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. www.communitychannel.org.

About Media Trust

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