Expedition Success Overcomes Disability

A team of ex-service men and women, some with a serious disability, has completed a 200-mile trek across the Antarctic to reach the South Pole.

The charity expedition was organised to raise funds for Walking With the Wounded, a UK charity that works closely with ex-service men and women with disabilities to help them into long term employment after their time in the forces.  They’re committed to providing re-education and re-training for ex-Armed Forces personnel who’ve suffered injuries, to help them plan their future and find their way back into the workplace.

Race to the South Pole

The charity launched its Antarctic Expedition Challenge as a race between UK ‘Team Glenfiddich’, American ‘Team US’ and Australian/Canadian ‘Team Commonwealth’.  Across the three teams were 12 ex-service men and women who’ve been injured in conflict and as a result suffer from disabilities.

Initially the teams were supposed to compete against each other to the South Pole finish line. However, with conditions a lot worse than they had bargained for the trek changed to a joint expedition instead of a competition to get there first.

Expedition Director, Ed Parker, explains: “People were beginning to get very, very tired. Talking with our doctor, we just felt we were beginning to push people a little too hard, so we suspended the race element of the trek.”

Disability Overcome

The expedition continued as one team working together to pull sleds and supplies, weighing 70kg, across the Antarctic to arrive at their goal.  Patron of the charity, Prince Harry, who took part with Team Glenfiddich, said working alongside colleagues with disabilities and arriving at the South Pole was “an amazing feeling.”

The Prince continued: “I’m so chuffed and so privileged to be here with all these guys and girls. I think we’ll be having a few whiskies tonight and then everyone’s looking forward to getting home.  Mission success!”

As well as enforcing the charity’s message that despite disabilities, nothing is impossible, the trek successfully raised over £100,000.

Next up for Walking With the Wounded is the 156-mile Marathon de Sables (Marathon of the Sands). Dubbed the world’s toughest foot race, it takes on the heat of the Moroccan desert, life-draining saltpans and strength-sapping sand dunes, not to mention unexpected sand storms that reduce visibility to zero in seconds.

Best of luck to everyone involved!