So. Fla. woman to run Sahara Desert marathon

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida woman living with multiple sclerosis is set to run a marathon across the Sahara desert.

Morocco's "Marathon des Sables" lasts six days and covers more than 150 miles through some of the toughest terrain on the planet. Temperatures during the desert dash have been known to reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Weston resident Danielle Furey said she's up to the challenge. "Go for anything you want to do in life," she said, "whatever you set your mind to, you can do."

One step at a time, Furey wants to prove she can do anything, even after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease. "I inspire others [by showing] that this is not the end of the line, that this diagnosis doesn't mean that you have to stop living your life," she said.

After months of training on South Florida beaches, Furey she's heading to Morocco to compete in what is widely considered one of the toughest foot races in the world. "Marathon des Sables" is a grueling week-long marathon covering roughly 156 miles in the Sahara Desert.

Furey indicated she chose to run for a good cause. "I'm trying to raise $10,000 for the National MS Society, so obviously that's near and dear to my heart," she said.

In 2012, Furey was diagnosed with MS, an incurable disease that affects more then 2 million people worldwide. "I might wake up with a numbness on my left leg one day," she said. "The next day, somebody might not be able to walk, might not be able to see," she added.

Even with the unknown ahead of her, Furey said she's ready take on any challenge, and live life to the fullest. "When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last years, I wanted to move up all the things I wanted to do and said, now or never," she said.

If you would like to help Furey raise money to help fund MS research, log on to http://www.outrunningms.com/.

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