COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FUNERAL?

Thanks once more from all of Peter's family for all of your support. If you'd have liked to have made it to the funeral, but couldn't, you might like to see this article, written by his son, about the funeral. It includes a video of the eulogies and tributes given.

At the funeral, Gary Foster - Chief Executive of TransAid - announced the creation of the Peter Huntley Fundraising Award, in our dad's honour. This award will be given to people who raise significant sums for TransAid by undertaking physical challenges. We think that this is a great way to honour the memory of our dad, and we hope that you do too.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

 Thank you everyone for your continued donations, I cant tell you how much it means to our family. Dad touched so many people's lives and we are using as many methods as possible to get in contact with everyone.

The funeral will take place on Friday 2nd March at 4pm. It will be held at the Preston Crematorium (Satellite navigation systems should be given the postcode PR2 5BP). Please feel free to contact me at becky.huntley@gmail.com if you need more details.

Written by Rebecca Huntley on behalf of the family.

UPDATED - PLEASE READ

As some of you will undoubtedbly know by now Peter George Huntley passed away this Sunday 19th of February whilst in training for his upcoming trek to the North Pole. He died doing what he loved, we hope that despite the loss we have all suffered you will happy to continue with your commitment to TransAid, If not please contact us.

We are hoping that another member of the team will take a small item to the North Pole in Peter's memory. Written by Peters Children.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

IS THIS WEATHER JUST FOR ME? - 6 FEBRUARY 2012

Who would have thought that I would be able to manage sub-zero blizzards without leaving the North of England? We have had a few days of really knarley weather with the opportunity to get out in it. But it is only when you are on a remote hill top in dear old blighty answering a call of nature that you begin to think about the rigours of toilet activity in the Artic. I dont want to put anyone off their supper but just think about the practicailities of this. Having to give serious thought to nutrition issues now as well. With no opportunity to wash for up to 16 days it is important not to touch food but important to eat lots! So boil in the bag is the order of the day which sort of limits the culinary treats I can promise myself for my time in the tent on a night. I wonder how many flavours of boiled rice there are?

STEPPING UP THE STAMINA - 14 JANUARY 2012

For the first stage of my training build up I have just completed a thousand mile cycle over 11 days. This is to build stamina cycling from first to last light continuing my annual sojourn following the Mediterranean coastline. I started this cycle at Faro in Portugal in 2000 and each year I have managed to squeeze in a ride in the first week of the year taking me through Spain, France and over the last 6 years round the Italian coastline and into Slovenia. So this year I used the ride for an additional push on day-after-day stamina. Italy was colder than usual this year and with economic prosperity in the doldrums the sight of a mad Englishman cycling in shorts in the ice at least amused the Italians.

Now it is back to some serious tyre pulling and some heavy duty 'core strength' work in the gym.

UPDATE ON MY TRAINING - 6 DECEMBER

Pulling tyres around Gateshead only gets you so far on the fitness front. Had anyone told me a year ago I would need a 'Personal Trainer' I would have scoffed. Surely they are the guys that keep footballers wives entertained in the afternoons arent they? Well apparently not. David Fairlamb runs his own training business and following his recent success (see 'Run Geordie Run') training a guy to run across America he has agreed to help me. Of course 'helping me' involves working me to the point of collapse before telling me to 'get down and give me ten pressups' but I love him anyway. And I am convinced some of my drivers are selling tickets on X66 on a 'spot the loony tour' as they never fail to point me out struggling along the riverside with my tyre close behind..........

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On 3 April 2012 I will set off on my attempt to walk across the Artic ice to the North Pole. I will be hauling everything I need for the journey - food, tent, equipment - on a sled. I will be supported by a professional guide and have the 'insurance' of rescue by a Russian helicopter should this be necessary. I am funding all costs of my trip personally but most importantly I am trying to raise funds for Transaid, which does an incredible job in providing practical and financial support for projects throughout the world. Formed jointly by Save the Children and the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics Transaid, as its name implies, is particularly focused on transport and is therefore particularly appropriate for those of us who have spent our working lives in the transport business. Its vision is of a world where transport contributes fully to a better quality of life in Africa and in developing countries throughout the world. I can't do the organisation full justice in my short words here - take a look at their website www.transaid.com to get a full picture of what they do.

Walking to The Pole in temperatures as low as -40 is a mammoth task by anyones standards and the expedition, which may take up to 16 days, will tax me to my limits. I am 55 now and still recovering from a broken arm earlier in 2011 so fitnes and stamina, not to mention the potential of encounters with Polar Bears, are amongst my concerns.

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