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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.

Go for it, Andy! Donation by Gerry (K) 12/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Andy hows 12 days 16hrs 5 mins for a target. Donation by Ade Gidney 12/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

if I win the £150 please use to make an appointment with your head doctor Mr Heading Donation by alan charles 12/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

9 days 5 hours good luck you loon don't forget the wooly hat Donation by Michael Steele 12/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

9 days 7 hours - this would see you home in time for tea. Good luck. Donation by Rogan, Lesley and Eleanor 11/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good look Andy! 11 days, 1 hour, 1 minute btw Donation by Alan Billington 11/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck and enjoy Donation by Nath & Joolz 11/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

You are mad but best of luck! Donation by Julia Gale 11/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

10 days 8 hours would get you to Dawson in time for the annual biscuit eating challenge. Donation by Jonathan Edwards 11/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

9 days, 23 hours, 59 mins. No time for chatting up polar bears in that! Good luck and thank you. Donation by Nicky Spinks 11/01/07  

£25.00

17 days 1 minute. Hope you got more than just a wooly hat from Santa! Donation by Malc 11/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

15 days, 2 hours and 7 mins. Good luck mate! Donation by Chris & Ratna 11/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

9 days 16 hours 57 minutes (should be a doddle for a chap like you) Donation by Ian and Sally Gilliver 11/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

It's easy Andy - just divide your last time by 300 and multiply by 460. 9 days, 17 hours, 4 minutes Donation by Alex, Sharon & Lee 10/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Have a good event Andy Donation by Dark & White Events 10/01/07  

£20.00

12 days 12 hours 40 minutes. Good luck!!! Donation by Peter Cross from PFRAC 10/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Couldn't you find something harder to do!!!! Good luck and watch out for visions of the pope!! Donation by Hugh 10/01/07  

£46.00 + £12.97 Gift Aid

10 days 5 hours exactly - don't let me down! Phil Donation by Phil O'Brien 10/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best big boy.11 days 45 mins,with a stop at mucky strasse. Donation by Richard Palmer 10/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

12 days, 6 hours and 14 minutes if you waste time by stopping and chatting to the Pope again! Donation by Nigel Swinscoe 10/01/07  

£10.00

10 days 5 hours 16 minutes assuming no Popes and no bears interfere with your journey! Donation by Nigel Swinscoe 10/01/07  

£10.00

Donation by Teija 10/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Who are you and why do you keep pestering me? Donation by Andy Dickson 10/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Heather Thomas 10/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I always thought that you were mad! - best of luck Andy Donation by Caroline Hodgkinson 10/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Still think you are mad! Hope N Year's inclement weather and the seafront helped. Take care! Donation by Lucy McCrickard 10/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

11 days 10 hours 9 minutes - Good luck Andy Donation by Richie 10/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

9 DAYS 22 HRS 20 MINS Donation by BERGIE 10/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Very best of luck - Enjoy. No need to include me in a draw. Donation by Martin Stone 10/01/07  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

9 DAYS 8 HRS 55 MINS Donation by BERGIE 10/01/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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