Historic challenge for adventurer

Tuesday 25th October 2011

Intrepid adventurer Mark Wood is to use his upcoming solo polar expedition to spur on action against climate change.

Mark is attempting to become the first person in history to solo ski to the South and North Geographic Pole's consecutively.

The challenge has been classed by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as "the toughest journey on the planet".

But rather than ask for traditional cash sponsorship for the challenge, Mark wants people to help him achieve a target of a different kind with "donations by doing".

Using sponsorship platform, The DoNation, people can pledge an action, ranging from eating less meat to installing solar panels. The carbon saved from each individual's actions will be added together to reach Mark's target of saving 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Mark, from Coventry, said: "All my life I've wanted to walk in the footsteps of the great explorers. But thanks to man's destruction of the planet, the paths they mapped no longer exist. The effects of climate change have left a very different landscape.

"One-hundred and ten days is a long time to spend alone with only the ice caps for company. Knowing that I'll be supported by thousands of individuals pledging to make a difference is fantastic. Combating climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation, and only by acting together can we hope to succeed."

Mark, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Liverpool Wilderness Medical Society, will depart in early November.

He has also set up an educational schools programme, where students can track his progress and speak to him at key milestones on his journey.

To support Mark visit http://www.thedonation.org.uk/NorthSouthSolo.

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