Polar challenge
Long-term MS Trust supporters Mark Jurgens and Mark Priest set out on the Polar Challenge in April 2008. Mark Jurgens tells us all about it below.
"I don't think there is anything that really prepares you for the 400 miles of walking to the Magnetic North Pole, where the temperature drops as low as -50ºC and the threat of hungry polar bears looking for a dinner date is constant. Moving in that environment pushes the body's physical and mental capabilities to the limits and occasionally beyond.
"The plan was always that Mark Priest and myself would do this together, but unfortunately he had to pull out due to a frost bite injury before we started. After 2 years of planning, to have to pull out the night before we set off on route to the Pole was devastating.
"After walking for 25 hours in a white out and knowing that after 3 hours sleep I had to do it again, remembering how much people had donated to the MS Trust really helped to move my body through the pain.
"I have been back in the UK for 4 weeks now and I am not sure if the whole adventure has really sunk in yet. My body has certainly been through the mill, I arrived back in the UK 23kg lighter and I lost feeling in my right hand, but nothing that won't recover.
"Supporting the MS Trust was very important to me when taking on this challenge and was a great source of inspiration to keep going during the days when I would wake up in a frozen sleeping bag. Thank you all for you wonderful support."
The MS Trust would like to say a huge thank you to Mark and Mark for all their efforts and for raising over £16,900 in sponsorship.
Mark Jurgens
Mark Jurgens
Make a Difference
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