Paul TEMPLER (USA)

Paul TEMPLER (USA), will compete for the first time in the MARATHON DES SABLES in about one month. He will run for his own Fondation following a family tragedy.

I started training for the MDS a few years ago – four postponements later (thanks COVID), the time is finally here.

By design, I’m not a runner... I was always more of a paddler with a love for being in, on or under water, until one day when an angry hippopotamus attacked me whilst I was kayaking on the mighty Zambezi River. I lost my left arm at the shoulder.

I’ve had many labels attached to me: son, father, friend, partner, bartender, bouncer, soldier, safari-guide, business consultant, entrepreneur, philanthropist, speaker, author, adventurer… and now MDS 36 Participant.

I’m running to raise money for the Templer Foundation, specifically for a program called “Erin’s Light” named in honor of my 15-year-old daughter Erin who died in 2020. Templer Foundation provides services that can change a child’s developmental trajectory and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities around the world. Its global initiative, Erin’s Light Early Intervention Program, leverages the application of cutting-edge neuro-literacy, well-established educational modalities, and local community resources. The combination of these methods empowers parents, guardians, and caregivers to enhance their quality of life and alleviate the stigmatization associated with their children, many of whom are medically fragile.

I was raised Catholic, have explored, and dabbled in more religions and spiritual traditions than I can currently name. Mystics, Shamans, poets, televangelists, survivors, barstool philosophers, and neuroscientists intrigue me. I believe that crystals are a thing, and I buy into my horoscope. I’m a fan of psychology, philosophy, and science. A voracious learner with (for the most part) an open mind. I believe that anything is possible, and that gratitude, kindness, and love are superpowers that we all possess, and that we have the power to utilize them at will if we choose to.

And as a conclusion I love being a dad and relaxing while enjoying a cup of coffee.