“Up at 3 this morning, Nick (Heygate, friend and Challenge cameraman) & I flew to Fort Dauphine. About 2 hours by air & all we saw was hills & mountains. It's going to be a serious run! Been waiting for drivers to take us to the start. Been told it's a rugged 10 hour drive to the middle of nowhere, Cap Saint Marie, the southern tip.”
Thu at 11:12pm

“Drivers arrived, look hammered, vehicles up on jacks checking them. Roads are basically non-existent here. Guys hit massive rain & water seat height in 4x4. Sorting all our gear and food. No town for first 15 days.”
Fri at 2:09am

With two world first runs under his belt – the 4200 km Great Wall of China run in 2006 and last year’s 3300 km southern African coastline run -  this Cipla Miles for Smiles Madagascar Challenge is Grier’s most daring and physically demanding extreme adventure to date.   After the approximately three month run, Grier, who turns 50 next month, will attempt to kiteboard and paddle back to South Africa, returning end of March 2010.

Grier’s not taking this on simply to satisfy his love of extreme adventure however. Again he’s raising funds for the Cipla Miles for Smiles Foundation, which supports non-profit surgical organization Operation Smile SA (OSSA).

“I decided on a multi discipline event as I wanted to involve aspects that would challenge me in a different way,” said Grier before leaving SA. “By including the paddle and kiteboard, I feel this will be my most difficult challenge yet as they are both relatively new sports to me so I am going to have to dig really deep which I’ve already experienced in training.”

OSSA  is part of global organization Operation Smile which facilitates free reconstructive surgery for underprivileged children born with cleft lips, palates and other facial deformities.  Grier’s previous two previous world first runs with friend and fellow adventurer Braam Malherbe have to date raised R2,5 million for OSSA.

Utilising various social media platforms is allowing David to chart his progress so followers can watch the journey unfold almost daily.  His blogs, Twitter feeds, Facebook updates  and photos can all be accessed via www.milesforsmiles.co.za and donations to make his journey count can also be done via a secure online payment site.

For more information and background to David’s adventure, visit http://www.spice4life.co.za/cipla-david-grier-embarks-short-.asp