The Molar Explorer,

Cat Burford

I am a dentist with a passion for adventure. Next November, I will be skiing for 'S'miles and 'S'miles across Antarctica to become one of only a handful of women reach the South Pole solo and unsupported!

The Expedition

Antarctica is the highest, coldest, driest and windiest continent on earth.

I will leave in November 2024 and ski over 700 miles from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. I could face temperatures as low as minus 50 degreesC and wind speeds of up to 60mph.

The expedition will take between 45 and 55 days and is totally unsupported. This means that I must carry all the food, fuel, clothing and equipment for the journey in a pulk/sled that I will pull behind me. This will weigh approximately 80kg.

This JustGiving page will be used to help cover the substantial costs of equipment, fuel, food, shipping, training, transportation and the payment to Antarctic logistics (ALE) for the expedition.

Using My Platform

I am also passionate about promoting oral health and delivering prevention messages. Dental decay is a completely preventable disease and education is the key to reducing health inequalities.

It is shocking to know that tooth decay is the number one reason for young children to be admitted to hospital in the UK. Prevention and education is they key to reducing these health inequalities. With lack of access to routine dental care becoming headline news, I will be using my platform as the Molar Explorer, to engage with schools and communities, promote oral health and create a positive image around dentistry.

Charity & Fundraising

I am thrilled to share that I will be raising money for two charities that are close to my heart. Both of these organisations have a profound impact on the lives of people in need, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to their causes.

Bridge2Aid, (charity number 1170578) is a UK based charity that works in partnership with community health workers, dentists and local governments in Africa. They train people in oral health promotion, the delivery of community-based oral health education programmes and carry out training in how to provide emergency dental treatment.

Their aim is to empower African dentists and health workers by enabling them to continue the training model and provide a sustainable solution to increase access to dental care.

Community Action Nepal (Charity number 1067772) builds and operates health posts in rural Nepal. They also deliver sustainable education and livelihood programmes, aiming to improve the quality of life and resilience of these remote communities. https://www.canepal.org.uk/about

A Bit About Me....

I work as a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics in Penzance and Truro. In addition to my regular clinical work, I cover Out of Hours emergency shifts and serve as a faculty member of World Extreme Medicine, teaching expedition dentistry.

My passion for adventure and helping others has led me on a journey across the globe, travelling extensively to provide dental care and training to remote communities.

Why?

Antarctica has been a place I've longed to go to since I was a teenager. My fascination with the continent began when my Geography teacher, Mrs. Taylor, displayed a captivating image of a vast, pristine landscape on the classroom projector and informed us that it was the largest desert on earth.That moment sparked a desire in me to experience it firsthand.

As this expedition took hold, I tried to reconnect with Mrs Taylor so she could see the impact of her teaching and how she inspired me to go to Antarctica. I was saddened and shocked to discover that she had passed away far too young. The expedition then took on a new purpose as it will go ahead in her memory. She will very much be in my thoughts as I take her on an extroadinary journey with me.

Adventure and the need to challenge myself has always been a part of who I am. I strongly believe that without challenges, we never truly discover our full potential.

This is a picture of the only other women to succeed in a solo, unsupported expedition to the South Pole. This journey has only felt possible through reading the stories of those that have been before me. Witnessing someone who shares your background achieving something you thought was out of reach is invaluable.

A solo expedition to the South Pole requires perseverance, determination, and resilience in the face of adversity. I would love to inspire others to push their own limits and pursue their dreams. I hope that my expedition will serve as a reminder that we are all capable of achieving great things if we are willing to challenge ourselves and push beyond our perceived limits, no matter how daunting it may seem

The Training

Before embarking on an expedition to the South Pole, I need to build a "polar CV" , to establish credibility to gain permission to start the journey.

I began my training in September 2021, building fitness before my first polar skills course in Finse, Norway in March 2022. In March 2023 I returned from a further training expedition, working with my mentors, record-breaking polar adventurer Louis Rudd MBE and Wendy Searle, the seventh woman in history to complete a solo, unsupported expedition to the South Pole.

Finse is the training ground for many famous polar explorers. It was here that Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton came to hone their skills over a century ago.

Here I am (centre) on my first training course in Finse in March 2022.

In August/September 2023, I completed a 5half week full crossing of Greenland, following in the footsteps of that first crossing by Fridtjof Nansen in 1888. Greenland gave me everything I hoped for and was a valuable learning experience, where I really got to test my fitness and equipment before leaving for Antarctica.

You can read about my expedition in the following blog posts:

https://www.e3coach.com/the-big-one-before-the-really-big-one-by-cat-burford/

https://www.gdpuk.com/blogs/cat-burford/entry/2446-the-adventure-continues-to-greenland

I work with a coach, completing workouts which focus on the strength and endurance needed for such an expedition. I have become a regular talking point whilst dragging tyres along the Cornish coast!

Thank you for your interest and your support. To see regular updates on my training and my journey, please follow me on Instagram (@themolarexplorer), Facebook (The Molar Explorer) and Twitter (@themolarexplorer)