In April, a wounded soldier from Wilmslow will embark on an unaided expedition to the Geographical North Pole.
Captain Martin Hewitt, 30, will undertake this inspirational journey as part of a group of military servicemen who have all been wounded in the line of duty.
Captain Hewitt completed two operational tours of Afghanistan before getting shot in the shoulder during combat in Afghanistan in 2007. The bullet severed an artery and all nerves to the limb, rendering it paralysed. Since then, Martin has spent time in rehabilitation and received a number of operations to save the limb.
This expedition is a brave undertaking by people who have had their lives irreversibly changed whilst serving their country and now seek to rebuild their lives, to inspire and to help others follow their lead as they set out to prove that injuries and amputations need not be a barrier to endeavour and achievement.
The Walking with the Wounded Team who will take part in this unique expedition was unveiled at Trafalgar Square yesterday. The team of 4 wounded servicemen was chosen from 100 applicants and includes two amputees. They will be joined by two expedition leaders and a Norwegian polar guide. The team aim to make history and enter the record books as the first amputees to reach this remote destination.
The four-week expedition will see these amazing adventurers covering up to 200 miles of the frozen Arctic Ocean by foot. They will journey through some of the most hostile conditions on Earth, enduring temperatures as low as -50C.
The route to the North Pole will not be straightforward. The team will have to navigate dangerous open water 'leads' as well as vast swathes of ice rubble and pressure ridges. The Arctic Circle is also home to the notoriously aggressive Polar Bear. All this means every step of the way is tricky and fraught with risk. Through this difficult terrain each person will be pulling their own gear, clothing and rations in sleds that will weigh in excess of 100kg.
Training for this challenge has been gruelling. The team need to be exceptionally physically fit and their preparation has been tireless. From daily runs dragging tyres, endurance running, weight sessions and nutrition programmes to practical cold weather training on Norway's glaciers, the team have left nothing to chance.
Martin says: "The expedition is an amazing opportunity to achieve something truly special and raise the profile of those injured on operations in service. It will be the greatest physical challenge I have taken part in to date.
"The magnitude of the challenge has now hit home and I'm rebalancing my ski racing season to accommodate the extensive training, research and preparation that will be required to maximise our teams chance of success on the challenge."
Expedition Patron, His Royal Highness Prince Harry commented: "What the Walking with the Wounded North Pole Team is undertaking is an enormous adventure of the most challenging order. I'm delighted that their training has been going well so far, and that they feel prepared for the task ahead.
"The funds that Walking with the Wounded will - I hope - raise, with the public's support, will make a life-changing difference to injured servicemen and women from our Armed Forces, re-training and re-skilling them for their own challenging futures. I wish the Team the very best of luck."
Walking with the Wounded aims to raise £2m for identified education projects and training courses which specifically account for both physical and mental injuries sustained by servicemen and women. To make a donation in support of Walking With The Wounded visit the charity's website.
Photo: (l-r) Sergeant Steve Young, Captain Guy Disney, Private Jaco Vann Gass and Captain Martin Hewitt.
