Former A-Rosa UK Managing Director Lucia Rowe has completed one of the world’s most gruelling ultra-marathons to raise over £10,000 for the children’s charity Reuben’s Retreat.
Lucia, 51, described the 270km Marathon des Sables – a six-day, self-sufficient race across the Sahara Desert – as the ‘adventure of a lifetime.’
The mammoth achievement comes as she celebrates five years in cancer remission. Her completion of the race follows an earlier attempt last year, when she was forced to withdraw midway after her body temperature dropped dangerously low due to her ongoing treatment.
Widely regarded as one of the most demanding races in the world, Lucia returned this year for the event’s 40th anniversary, where organisers extended the fourth stage to 100km from its usual 82km, adding to an already punishing course.
Lucia said she battled severe blistering that required constant re-bandaging, while also dealing with a stomach bug that left her unable to eat for the final 48 hours of the race. Despite her body ‘almost giving way’ several times, she pushed on, focusing mentally on the scale of the challenge.
She added: “Then, relief arrived: a flooding of tears cried every time I found strength to go on, a guiding hand from above that lifted my soul. It was a rough, painful and unforgiving feeling — but I kept smiling through it, for bigger things than pain walk amongst us.”
Lucia, who has over 25 years’ experience in the travel industry, took on the challenge in support of Reuben’s Retreat, a charity that helps families who have lost a child or are caring for children with complex medical needs.
She said: “[Reuben’s Retreat] has become so special to me and the work they do is so important that I kept the families they support front of mind and hope that we have not only raised a lot of money but awareness of this wonderful charity.”
The charity was founded in 2012 by former travel agent Nicola Graham following the tragic passing of her son Reuben, aged just 23 months.
Nicola said: “I’m never lost for words, but what Lucia has undertaken after what she has been through over the last few years leaves both myself and the whole team in awe of her strength and determination.
“We are so privileged and unbelievably touched that Lucia has taken our cause to her heart and champions us in a way that is so inspiring. She is an angel on earth and her story and compassion will help to inspire future fundraising endeavours and we cannot wait to tell everyone her story.”
The challenge has also attracted wider media attention, with BBC Wales filming with Rowe last week at the sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve, where she trained for the race. The feature is due to air on BBC Wales Today at 6.30pm on Friday (1 May).
Lucia left the river cruise line A-Rosa late last year and is now Managing Director UK/EMEA at Belsogno Enterprises, where she is working to bring an AI-driven B2B loyalty and revenue growth platform into the UK and European markets.
Her fundraising page remains live and can be found here.
