A PARAMEDIC and former serviceman from Cofton Hackett will take on a gruelling charity expedition to the South Pole.
Chris Brooke and his six colleagues from the Army Reservists will be dropped from a ski plane on the coastline of Antarctica where they will attempt to ski over 1,100 miles unsupported across the polar continent.
They are hoping to raise £100,000 for the soldiers’ charity the Army Benevolent Fund.
All of the soldiers will be hauling a sledge weighing approximately 160kg containing everything they need to survive.
The team will face many challenges along the way including the harsh polar weather, crevasses, whiteout conditions and a climb from sea level to 10,000ft.
Chris, who joined the army at 16 and served with the Cheshire Regiment, said: “I’m always striving for new challenges and adventures but this is nothing like I have ever experienced before and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to it but a part of me is naturally apprehensive too.
“Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and most inhospitable place on the planet but I’m told it’s also one of the most beautiful and rewarding places to travel in.
“It will test my endurance and physical fitness to the limit and as you’d expect there’s lots of training to be done beforehand.”
Chris, who is now 34, became a paramedic in 2010 before joining West Midlands Ambulance Service in 2012 but his love of the Army has always remained.
Visit www.justgiving.com/spear17 to donate to the cause.
The team is also looking for corporate sponsors.
Go to www.spear17.org/supporters/supportus for more on that.
