PHOTO: Darren Edwards © www.worldmarathonchallenge.com
Record-breaking disabled adventurer Darren Edwards will, in December 2024, attempt a new world record – the longest sit-ski expedition in the history of polar exploration.
Darren’s epic undertaking to reach the South Pole will see him ski 333 kilometres in just 20 days in -20 degree temperatures.
PHOTO: Darren Edwards
Currently, the furthest distance travelled by a sit-ski to reach the South Pole is 111 kilometres. Darren, who is paralysed from the chest down, will be supported by a team of friends, including Matt Luxton, the man who saved Darren’s life on the day of his life-changing climbing accident in 2016.
Working together, the team will face the risk of extreme temperatures, altitude sickness, exhaustion, and adverse environmental conditions.
In addition to changing perceptions of disability, the purpose behind Darren Edwards’ South Pole Challenge is to raise £300,000 for the charity Wings for Life which seeks to find a cure for Spinal Cord Injury, and funds research and clinical trials globally.
Previous record-breaking challenges undertaken by Darren since he was paralysed at the age of 26 include in June 2021 becoming the first person with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to Kayak 1,400 kilometres from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland, in May 2022 becoming the first disabled adventurer to lead a crew of six to row across the English Channel, and in October 2022 becoming the first disabled person to complete the World Marathon Challenge – the iconic challenge of running seven marathons in seven days on seven different continents.
In April 2023, Darren was also part of the first all-disabled team to cross Europe’s largest Ice Cap, the mighty Vatnajokull in Iceland.
Darren is hoping that his South Pole Challenge will raise £300,000 for the charity Wings for Life which seeks to find a cure for Spinal Cord Injury. You can support Darren by visiting his website DarrenEdwardsSpeaker.com and donating at JustGiving/SouthPoleChallenge2024. You can follow Darren on Instagram @darrenedwards_adventurer
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