A member of North Park Covenant Church, Peter is in the middle of his 150-mile, seven-day foot race called the Marathon of the Sands that stretches across southeastern Morocco. The race began April 7 and will finish Friday.

Murakami is raising money to benefit the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance. He already has raised $5,556, surpassing his minimum goal of $5,000.

Friedreich's Ataxia is a rare multi-system disorder that involves the degeneration of nerve tissues. People affected by the disorder suffer muscle weakness and loss of coordination (ataxia) in the arms and legs, vision impairment, hearing loss, aggressive scoliosis (curvature of the spine), diabetes mellitus or carbohydrate intolerance, and enlargement of the heart.

Murakami became aware of the disorder when a friend was diagnosed several years ago at the age of 20 – some 15 years after its onset. His friend is confined to a wheel chair. Both attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Murakami will be using his legs and all the mental and physical strength he can muster as he attempts to cross through inhospitable conditions with roughly 700 other competitors. Temperatures can reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and drop to lows near freezing at night, Murakami says. Sandstorms also are a possibility.

On his website, Murakami writes that competitors receive only a nine-liter ration of water and a very basic tent at the daily bivouac site. Competitors also must carry a backpack with all other necessities, including food for seven days, clothing, sleeping gear and a venom kit in case of snake bite. "I hope I won't need this," he says.