By Kevin Whitlock
Our very own John Thompson is hoping to enter the record books next month when he becomes the first black Briton (from known records) to reach the North Pole.
John, who’s 28 and who works as a production manager here at Canary Wharf, will be setting off in April on an epic journey with a group of fellow adventurers to walk and ski to the Pole for charity. He aims to reach his goal on or around 26 April.
Travelling by ski, the team will travel across the (totally unmarked) polar ice from 89°N to 90°, a journey of about 75 miles. Skiing for 6 – 10 hours each day, the group will have to negotiate some very difficult terrain – including giant cracks in the pack ice that expose the deadly cold, 13,500-foot deep polar sea – and endure temperatures as low as –40°C. What’s more, they will also have to drag their own supply sleds – a process known as “man hauling”!
An ex-Army man, John is in excellent physical and mental shape, but such a hazardous journey cannot be undertaking without preparation. He’s already undergone a gruelling “shakedown” training trip in the wilds of Northern Minnesota, on the US-Canadian border.
“The shakedown trip tested me to the limit But I also learned the skiing, winter camping and survival skills necessary for the expedition,” says John. “I had had little experience of Arctic camping and ski-ing but after the training, team-building and evaluation we got on the shakedown trip I’m feeling a lot more confident that I can achieve my goal.”
OgilvyOne is delighted to be one of John’s three sponsors. Managing Director Annette King says: “At OgilvyOne we offer to bring our clients ‘Safe Adventure’. I’m not sure how safe John’s adventure will be but we admire his spirit and determination, are extremely proud of him and we’re delighted to be able to help him on his way via our sponsorship.”
John wants to raise £60,000 for three charities, including Cancer Research UK, Action Medical Research and Chickenshed. He is aiming to raise the money by selling ad space on a flag he will be taking to the Pole. Once there, it will be unfurled, photographed and distributed to the UK media.
John has set up a website, www.lastdegree.co.uk, which will allow users donate online and follow his progress as he treks towards the Pole. Why not pay it a visit, catch up with John’s latest adventures, and make a donation?
