Raised: 126%
Target: £1,500.00
Raised so far: £1,897.49
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My story

 
Well, back home and thawed out after an eventful Yukon trip. I'll keep the details brief (more on www.arcticultra.de if you're interested), but basically the race was stopped for safety reasons at the 337-mile mark, when temperatures dipped to -61C and safety cover couldn't be guaranteed. I'm v disappointed not to have reached the finish, but hopefully you'll realise it was out of my hands! Of slight consolation was the fact that I was the only competitor in the 460-mile race to reach the remote Scroggie Creek checkpoint at Mile 337, and so was declared the winner...

As far as the Challenge Cancer 'Guesstimate' contest goes, I've worked out that I would have reached Dawson City in 11 days, 13 hours and 48 minutes (based on my actual pace of 337 miles in 8 days, 11 hours and 31 minutes). In the circumstances, this seems the fairest way to decide the winner, and after scanning the list of guesses, Jim Clark's estimate of 11:11:11 secures him the £150 prize.

So, finally - many, many thanks to everyone who contributed; with tax refunds, the total donated to Challenge Cancer is well over £2,000, all of which is now in their account.

Andy

**** UPDATE 25 JAN **** Many thanks to all of you who've helped hit the original £1,000 target! I've upped it again because I don't want to deter would-be sponsors from having a guess - and it'd be great to raise a bit more. **** Thanks again ****

On Feb 11th 2007, I'll be on a startline in Whitehorse, Canada, to run the 460-mile Yukon Arctic Ultra - a non-stop, unsupported race to the remote gold-rush town of Dawson.  The race route traverses frozen rivers, tundra and mountain ranges, and regularly sees temperatures drop to  -40C.

In return for a donation of £5 (or more!), there's a prize of £150 for the closest guess to my finishing time - days, hours and minutes - with ALL the proceeds going to a Derbyshire-based charity called Challenge Cancer Through Adventure.  In short, they fund adventure trips for people with cancer and potentially terminal illness (see www.challengecancer.org.uk for more details).

The inspiration for trying to support this charity has come from the courage, spirit and determination shown by friends Jill Leheup, Nicky Spinks and Denise Crowther, all of whom were diagnosed with cancer last year and are fighting hard to overcome an illness which I'm sure has affected - in one way or another - many of you reading this message.

Many thanks - Andy Heading

PS - please enter your finish time in the COMMENT box on the donation page. For more info about the race, log onto www.arcticultra.de  which will carry race updates from Feb 11th so you can see how your investment is doing!

PPS - guess tip: in 2005, a shorter (300-mile) version of the same race took me just over six days, 8 hours.

PPPS - if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your donation at no cost.

Carol says, "Why" ? Donation by Garry Smith 04/02/07  

£29.00

Good Luck Andrew you want your head examining! Donation by Carole Robinson 04/02/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Andy, a very worthwhile cause. 9 days 8 hours. Donation by Liz, Emergency Planning 04/02/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Look forward to seeing you in Whitehorse, best of British for a noble cause.9 days 14 hours. Donation by Sam Taylor & Jim Groark 03/02/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hi Andy, I will be with you on the trail, look forward to meeting you!! Donation by andrew mclean 02/02/07  

£10.00

10D 2Hs 30Mins - Will definately win. Best wishes from www.likeys.com Donation by Martin Like 02/02/07  

£10.00

A little bit longer than brother brother's guess!! Good luck and happy feet forward! X Donation by Jane H 01/02/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

kEEP THE FAMILY JEWELLS WARM! NO SECOND PLACE NOW - GOOD LUCK Donation by Mark 31/01/07  

£35.00 + £9.87 Gift Aid

10 Days 8hrs 14mins Donation by Dave Evans 30/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

WOULD HAVE JOINED YOU, BUT COULDN'T BE ARSED. 9DAYS 3 HRS 25MINS Donation by kevin tomlinson 30/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Suzannah (Marianne's friend!) 29/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

10 days 3 hours 2 mins Donation by Dave Annandale 29/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Best of luck, you can do it. Donation by Iris & Maurice 29/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Andy, 9 days, 7 hours, 7 minutes, You're good to win this year. Think of all that tyre dragging! Donation by Gary McMahon 28/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

12 days, 4 hours and 36 minutes Donation by Rosey Lakin 28/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

11 days 17 hours 23 minutes of listening to your mother whittling... We're banking on you to win it Donation by Big Daddy 28/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

10days 11hours 20min. Don't break those eggs! Best of luck! Donation by Pam & Trevor 28/01/07  

£10.00

A few more grey hairs for your poor old mother! Have a great race! Donation by Mum 28/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

No target time, just reach Dawson before anyone else. Donation by Brother of Andy 28/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

9 days 9 hours 14 mins GO FOR IT ANDY! Donation by Stef Jackson-Horner 26/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Just get on and win!!! Donation by Milly Molly Mandy 26/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Len 26/01/07  

£10.00

Just had to make it £1000. Thanks from all at CCTA Donation by Gill Jones 24/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Keep warm - 9 days 23 hours - go for it Donation by Roger and Ann Hiley 24/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

9 days 15 hours & 43 mins. Good Luck! Donation by Kristi Fish 24/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

10 days, 8 hours, 20 minutes - you mad badgers. Donation by carl patton 23/01/07  

£5.00

1) 11days 2 hrs 15 mins 2) 11days 10hrs 30 mins Donation by The Woodies 22/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Look Andy Donation by Ian 22/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

10 days, ten hours and ten minutes. Good luck Andy you must be mad!!!!!! x Donation by Claire Mackintosh 22/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

19 days 19 hours Ok it's slower than the others - prove me wrong! Donation by Graham Collins 21/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,897.49
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £440.56

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