Thousands of youngsters may have had their dreams of going to the North Pole dashed this Christmas, but one woman is about to turn that dream into reality.
Amelia Russell, 27, has been dragging tyres over Epsom Common for months as she trains first British woman to walk unsupported to the geographic North Pole.
She will set out from Canada in February with partner Dan Darley, 33, to try to ski and snowshoe to the geographic North Pole - a far more demanding trip than that to the magnetic pole.
The straight line distance they have to cover is about 500 miles, although drifting sea ice and the need to travel around open water means they will actually have to walk significantly further.
The pair are using the challenge to raise money for the charity Help for Heroes, which supports injured British servicemen and servicewomen who are treated at Headley Court, in Leatherhead, and elsewhere.
Miss Russell, an A&E doctor, said: “There are a lot of different ways to go to the North Pole. No British woman has ever done it completely unsupported. Only two women have done it in that way before.”
They will be carrying all of their food, fuel and equipment, a combined load of around 300kg at the start of the expedition.
To prepare physically, the couple are following an intensive training schedule including regular tyre dragging sessions on the Common to simulate hauling heavy sledges across the ice.
Miss Russell and Mr Darley are regularly seen out on the footpaths and bridleways of Epsom Common with their tyres in tow, attracting bemused looks from dog walkers and Sunday strollers.
Mr Darley, who grew up in Epsom, said: “After 18 months of ups and downs during our preparations it is great that the last bits are now sorted and we can focus on the last few months of training”
The expedition is expected to take from 55 to 65 days depending on ice conditions and the weather. Miss Russell said: “Undertaking this incredible journey has been a dream of mine for such a long time, I’m so excited that it’s finally happening.
“It’s definitely the most scary thing I have ever done and probably that I’ll ever do. There are many things that could go wrong, but if you don’t try you won’t succeed.”
The pair have set up a website www.northpolechallenge.co.uk which is regularly updated and will be used to track their progress towards the North Pole.
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