Ice Work! Fulham Man Walks to North Pole

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414 mile challenge in aid of Epilepsy Action

Stephen Davies, 34, has set himself the icy challenge to support Epilepsy Action because his sister suffers from the condition.

Stephen and his 11 team mates set off from Resolute Bay in Canada on Saturday. Over the next 30 days, they will walk a total of 414 miles to reach the official location of the Magnetic North Pole.

If they do it, they will be the first British team ever to complete the walk unsupported, which means the team will be responsible for carrying their supplies the whole way.

The time the trek takes to complete depends on weather conditions. The Arctic is one of the world's most extreme environments, with temperatures as low as -50C.

This week , the team have covered more than 40 miles of the journey, tackling temperatures of -21C and difficult icy conditions.

But they remain in good spirits. The team blog for Sunday read: "Most of the team had an Easter egg and treat to start the day. The sun was out all day and the temperature only -5 with a slight wind."

Stephen has already managed to raise more than £6,500, taking him close to his overall target of £7,200, which equates to £20 for every mile he walks.

This isn't Stephen's first intrepid challenge. In 2008, he successfully trekked 100 miles across the Canadian-owned Baffin Island, raising £6,000 for Epilepsy Action.

Before he flew off for his current challenge, Stephen said: "I'm looking forward to being in the remote arctic wilderness and raising funds for such a vital charity.

"Epilepsy Action does a fantastic job of supporting people with epilepsy and I'm proud to be taking on this challenge for the charity."

Epilepsy Action is a member-led organisation acting as the voice for people with epilepsy, as well as their friends, families, carers and health professionals. It campaigns to improve epilepsy services and raise awareness of the condition.

April 8, 2010