Frome scout prepares for North Pole expedition

A TEENAGER from Frome is preparing for an expedition to the North Pole with the Scouts – and is busy working on helping to raise the £150,000 needed to finance the project.  

Chris Brown, 18, has been in the Scouts since he was 11 years old and has embarked on many adventures all over the world but none will come as big as a trip to the North Pole.

He was picked from hundreds of applicants after a gruelling selection in Dartmoor and Norway.

The expedition, entitled Scouts on the Pole, is expected to start in April 2014 dependent on weather conditions at the time and Chris will be joined by three other Scouts and organiser of the event, Wez Swain. The team will be guided by professional polar guide, Anthony Jinman who has been on 14 Arctic expeditions, many of which he has led.

To prepare for the trip the team must raise £150,000 sponsorship and they must be physically ready for the challenge. To raise the sponsorship, the team has held a series of events and offer corporate packages, all available through the website www.scoutsonthepole.com

Chris said, “It is an absolutely amazing opportunity but the biggest hurdle remains – raising £150,000! We are working hard on this and need all the support we get and I know we won’t give up.

“Originally I got told that I hadn’t been selected for the tour but I was first reserve. At this point I was gutted, but tried my best to move on. Then, out of the blue, I got a call from the organiser saying someone had dropped out. I was elated – especially as I thought the chance had gone.

“The hard work has already began and I am training for the physical challenge that comes with going to the North Pole. I have been dragging huge tyres around and hitting the gym three or four times a week. After recently going to Norway for training, now I’m really excited and think it will be an amazing achievement that I can one day tell the grandchildren.”

The team’s recent trip to Norway allowed the participants to have a taster of the temperatures of the North Pole which is expected to range from -20C to -35C. The expedition to the Pole is expected to take three weeks and Chris will be walking or skiing for between 8-10 hours a day pulling a sledge carrying equipment, fuel and food that will weigh around 70kg.

Talking about the North Pole challenge his proud mum, Jane Brown said, “He has worked so hard to get to where he is and he has already been involved in many great trips.

“The North Pole expedition will be a massive challenge but one that I’m sure he will achieve. I’m really proud of him and I think if he wasn’t in Madagascar he would be getting the message out to follow your dream and that anything is possible.

“He is a real inspiration to the other scouts as to what can be achieved and at just 18, he is the youngest in the team.”

Wez Swain organiser of the Scouts on the Pole expedition said, “The ski expedition to the North Pole is a complex mission that demands a good physical and psychological preparation. It is always better to enjoy the trek then to suffer on it. We will be skiing the last two degrees of latitude to the pole.”

If you would like to sponsor Chris or the team on their voyage or to find out more about what packages on offer call organiser Wez Swain on 07773 302854 or Wez@scoutsonthepole.com. Alternatively contact Chris himself after August 12th on  07815 975006 or christopherbrown337@gmail.com.