Story
Thanks for visiting Anne and Jo's fundraising page. Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. If you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. Anne Mawdsley, Chief Executive and Founder of the Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Association has returned from the fringes of the Arctic Circle where she drove a team of huskies across the lakes and forests of Finland accompanied by Jo Kaddish, Chair of the Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Association Board of Trustees. The aim of the challenge was to create a greater awareness of Raynaud's and scleroderma and raise lots of money for research. If you have not already done so, if you could sponsor Anne and Jo it would be very much appreciated, as every pound counts.
Anne said:
It was certainly a challenge to keep warm. I survived the extreme cold and went out each day with the huskies in sub zero temperatures. On the second night the temperature was minus 38, the coldest night of the winter in Finland. In the daytime it was minus 31 degrees C! The weather was unbelievable - blue sky and sunshine each day - it was like a winter wonderland.
We found that preparation was the key, and it took us at least an hour and a half to get dressed each morning with so many layers of clothing and heat packs, that we lost count!! With all of this on Jo managed to stay relatively warm, but I did have problems with my feet – I found the end of the first day was the worst as my feet died on me during the last 20 kms! Managed not to get frostbite as the guides were great at massaging my feet frequently and then wrapping my legs and feet in several spare anoraks. Overnight my feet were pretty painful but then it wouldn't have been a challenge without some discomfort! After dusk, we had to brave the cold and deep snow again to reach the only washing facilities which consisted of a sauna (with two washing up bowls and a ladle!), in a pine wood shed down a steep hill and then down 26 snow covered steps! Considering it was pitch black and the only lighting were our head torches, I don’t know how we managed not to break something!! As the temperature that night had dropped to -38C, on day 2 we went trail blazing - a new trail for the guides and the dogs which took us though fresh snow through forests and was slightly shorter than the day before. In total we covered about 52 kms which was enough for me to cope with!Thank you to everyone who sponsored this challenge - your support really is appreciated.
Anne Mawdsley MBE & Jo Kaddish