The Mission
The HEADSOUTH team will set off from the Union Glacier Basecamp and complete 10 hours of ice travel each day in some of the coldest temperatures on earth to reach the geographic South Pole in one of the most extreme tests of physical and psychological endurance that they will ever experience.
The team will be active for 8 -12 hours each and every day, hauling heavy loads for 10 days in a row, stopping only to eat every couple of hours. In order to attain the level of strength and aerobic fitness required, each participant will take part in a dedicated pre-trip training program before departure.
This is an expedition to the most remote part of Antarctica, where physiological altitude will be close to 10,000 feet for many days in a row, with temperatures that may drop below -40ºC with severe wind chill and storms.
The Cause
The Headsup series, sponsored by Y.CO, has so far raised over 285,000 GBP for The Lewis Moody Foundation. This final challenge is set to be The Foundation’s biggest fundraising challenge so far with an aim to raise over 500,000 GBP
The money raised through HEADSOUTH will enable the Foundation to fund pioneering new research into brain tumours and improve survival rates for those diagnosed with the disease. The money raised through the challenge will go to help two projects:
Tessa-Jowell BRAIN-MATRIX
The Tessa-Jowell BRAIN-MATRIX is a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that will enable doctors to treat brain tumours with drugs that are more targeted than ever before. The Brain-Matrix is inspired by the incredible and brave Dame Tessa Jowell who lost her life to a brain tumour in 2018.
BRIAN
The Brain Tumour Information and Analysis Network is a ground-breaking databank, the first of its kind in the UK, and the first databank for cancer in the world. BRIAN will allow those affected by a brain tumour to make informed decisions based on the experiences of others, clinicians to identify and implement best practice, and researchers to access data to reach a cure sooner.
Charlie Birkett
Co-Founder And Ceo Of Y.CO
Charlie is passionate about supporting charitable causes and he is no stranger to cold-weather pursuits, having telemarked across Norway with the SBSA and having trekked to the North Pole alongside Lewis Moody and the team in headnorth. He joined Lewis again in 2018 for an extreme Mega-Triathlon raising over £60,000 for Lewis’ Foundation. In total, Charlie and the Y.CO team have raised over €1,000,000 to support several causes.
Gary Wright
Co-founder And Ceo Of Y.CO
Gary has completed a variety of fitness challenges for charity and some of his achievements include telemarking across Norway with the SBSA, running 5 London Marathons for WellChild and cycling from London to Monaco twice for the Blue Marine Foundation. headsouth marks his third extreme challenge alongside Lewis Moody and the team following an extreme trek to the North Pole in 2015 and a grueling Mega-Triathlon in 2019.
Alan Chambers Mbe
Expedition Leader
Alan Chambers spent 16 years as a Royal Marine Commando, trained as a Parachutist, Diver, Paramedic and operated in Jungle, Desert, Arctic and Urban environments. In 2000 he led the first British Team to the North Pole from Canada, over 1,000km in 70 days, and has led 11 further teams to the North Pole, and has also led expeditions to the South Pole across Antarctica, and Coast to Coast across Greenland.
Through Polar expeditions, Alan has raised £5 million for charities. He is currently brand ambassador for the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign and also works as a motivational speaker. Alan was awarded the MBE in 2000 for effective leadership in constant adversity.
LET'S CHAT.
Get in touch with one of our teams around the world.
Where you'll find us
Monaco — MC
+377 93 50 12 12London — UK
+44 20 7584 1801Fort Lauderdale — US
+1 954 278 3970Auckland — NZ
+64 9 281 5133Contact us
[email protected]
