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Welshman Among Wounded Servicemen to Trek Unaided to North Pole
(Info from Press Release): A World Record Expedition by Wounded Servicemen to Trek Unaided to the Geographical North Pole Patron: HRH Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales
In April 2011 an expedition will embark on a journey to the Geographical North Pole unaided. Amongst this group will be military servicemen who have been wounded in the line of duty and subsequently have lost limbs to amputation. This is a brave undertaking by people who have had their lives irreversibly changed whilst serving their country. They now seek to rebuild their lives and to inspire and help others to follow their lead as they set out to prove that injuries and amputations need not be a barrier to endeavour and achievement.
Walking with the Wounded, supported by Artemis, is a unique and truly special expedition that will see wounded servicemen from our trek to the Geographical North Pole unaided. In doing so they will the record books as the first amputees to reach this remote destination.
If you'd like to join me in supporting Tonypandy native Steve Young and the rest of the Team, you can donate online here: http://www.justgiving.com/steveyoungwelshguard
They are scheduled to leave March 24th.
The four week expedition will see these amazing adventurers covering up to 400km (300 Miles) of the frozen Arctic Ocean by foot. They will journey through some of the most hostile conditions on Earth, enduring temperatures as low as -50C. These temperatures are made worse by the consistently high moisture content in the air. Hypothermia and frost-bite are very real dangers in this environment.
The route to the North Pole will not be straight-forward. The team will have to navigate dangerous open water leads as well as vast swathes of ice rubble and pressure ridges. The Arctic Circle is also home to the notoriously aggressive Polar Bear. All this means every step of the way is tricky and fraught with risk. Through this difficult terrain each person will be pulling their own gear, clothing and rations in pulks (sleds). These pulks will weigh in excess of 100kg.
In short, trekking to the North Pole is one of the most demanding, dangerous and difficult journeys that we, as humans, can undertake. These adventurers will be doing so with the added challenge of their injuries, which they received in the line of duty.
As part of the schedule, the expedition team recently took part in the Exmoor 30:30. The Exmoor 30:30 is an adventure race across Exmoor, Devon where all participants are required to carry 30lbs over the course of 30 miles. It was created initially to test the endurance of The British Army and is considered to be one of the harshest adventure races on UK soil. The team successfully completed the course, coming third overall and beating eight able bodied teams.
In early November the final four-wounded serviceman, who were chosen from over100 applicants, took part in a demanding training weekend in Norway. Joined by two expedition leaders and polar guides, the expedition team were able to train, bond and prepare themselves for the harsh and deadly climate of the Arctic.
This expedition is taking place to raise money for the charity Walking with the Wounded whose primary remit is to help rehabilitate wounded service people back into the workplace.
Words of Support:
Prince Harry (Patron): This polar adventure will exemplify the tenacity and courage of those who serve in uniform. Walking with the Wounded promises to be remarkable. I salute the Team walking to the North Pole in early 2011, and I urge the public to get behind them.
Brigadier Ed Butler: Rehabilitating wounded service men and women back into a non-military workplace is a huge task the nation faces in these modern times. It is down to the tenacity and courage of teams like Walking with the Wounded that funds and interest in this issue can be raised.
Bear Grylls An epic challenge for a vitally important cause. I so admire this team and their determination to make a difference. And boy they are doing it the hard way! Brilliant!
Steve Young, one of the Team Members, is the cousin of a friend of mine in Wales. I will be following this effort and posting updates as I get them. Meanwhile here is Steve's info. You can read about the other Team Members here: http://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/profile/simon-daglish/
Steve Young (Sergeant)
- AGE: 28
- BIRTHPLACE: Tonypandy
- FAMILY: Engaged to Emma
- POLAR READING: The Last Gentleman Adventurer by Edward Beauclerk Maurice
Why have you agreed to be part of Walking with The Wounded?
When I was approached to discuss taking part in this challenge I was so excited, I have always been fascinatedwiththe artic and to be given the opportunity to take part is such a privilege.
This challenge is a huge goal to achieve and hopefully it will inspire other battle wounded soldiers to push themselves and never give up.
Team member profile
I am currently in full time physiotherapy in RAF St Athan which is very close to my home in the Rhondda Valley. I live with my long suffering fiance Emma and although we do not yet have any children we are constantly adding to our family with animals we feel sorry for that need adopting.
I have been in the Welsh Guards for over 11 years and am currently a Platoon Sergeant.
I have served on operational tours in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
On the 1st August 2009 I was involved in an IED explosion whilst travelling in a Mastiff Armoured Personnel Carrier during Operation Panthers Claw in the area of Babaji, Helmand Province. I suffered a complicated, burst unstable fracture of the L1 Vertebrae.
From this I spent 4 weeks in Selly Oak hospital and then was confined to aspinal bed for atotal of 4 months. Due to this I suffered massive muscle deterioration and , which along with my injury was treated through full time physiotherapy.
How have you found the training so far?
Due to my injury I am restricted to carry out training of a non load bearing type.I have mainly been concentrating on low intensity, prolonged periods of training such as the tyre pulling.I also have a weakness in my back which I am attempting to overcome by concentrating a lot of my time on core .
As for the arctic side of it, I have never put a set of Skis on in my life so am looking forward to getting on the ice in Norway, when the rest of the team will have a good laugh at my resemblance to Bambi on ice.
What are your daily activities?
I get up around 6.30am and make my way to Physio where I swim, do cardio training and weights. I am usually in Physio until 12.30 and I return home to have a couple of hours rest before my tyre pulling.
After being told we will burn over 8000 calories on the ice I am on a mission to eat everything in sight and am drivingmad with my constant requests and using the excuse I have to be fed up for the North Pole
Here is how they are preparing for this experience:
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Out of the white wilderness comes a line of scarlet-clad figures pulling heavy sledges across the snow.
This is the Walking with the Wounded Polar Team in Norway.
Among them are four British soldiers who have suffered amputations or paralysis as a result of being wounded in battle.
In March, they hope to trek 300 nautical miles (345 miles, 555km) across the Arctic sea ice to the geographic North Pole.
One of the four is Capt Martin Hewitt, 29, from Wilmslow, who was injured while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan.
Paralysed armIn August 2007, he was leading an assault on an enemy position when he was shot in the shoulder and the foot.
He was left paralysed in his right arm and has to wear several layers of Merino wool to keep it insulated from the cold.
He may not be able to use it but Capt Hewitt can still feel things with his arm, which is just as well.
"On the trip, it's essential to be able to feel the cold as a warning against frostbite," he said.
Capt Hewitt grew up in Widnes and, before gaining his commission, studied at the University of Salford.
Despite his injuries and undergoing 13 operations, he is still a serving soldier and also captain of the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team.
"When I got shot, my mum would have wished for me to take up a 9 to 5 job and play tiddlywinks perhaps, instead of racing downhill as fast as I possibly can and walking to the North Pole in my spare time," he said.
"But she knows what I'm like."
'Fear and elation'
The four soldiers taking part in Walking with the Wounded were chosen from 100 who applied and include two amputees.
Each man must haul 100kg (220lb) sledges across steep ridges of broken sea ice in temperatures as low as -40C.
During the four week trek, they are due to eat three times their normal calorie intake but should still .
Their guide is Inge Solheim from Norway, whose job is to prepare the men both physically and mentally so they can cope when the lows hit.
"They'll feel homesickness and fear as well as elation," he said.
But Martin and his colleagues are not just doing this to test themselves in one of the world's harshest environments.
They're hoping to raise 2m for charity to pay for the education and re-training of wounded servicemen and women trying to get back into work.
The team plans to set off for the North Pole from north of Siberia at the end of March.