Charlie Martell
Race to the North Pole - 2005
Fundraising for Meningitis Now
Story
SUCCESS - Commando Joe has challenged its first extreme!
On May 4, 2005, at 0721hrs, the Commando Joe (Polar) team comprising Charlie Martell, Steve Clewley MBE and Gary Bullen completed the Scott Dunn Polar Challenge in a record-breaking time of 9 days, 17 hours and 39 minutes.
The night before the race start, the temperature dropped to -28, with the first night of the race being even colder! As a team, we were fortunate enough to see 5 Polar Bears, 2 Caribou, a seal basking in the sun (!), 1 Arctic Fox, Hare and an Owl. Prior to arrival at checkpoint 2, we were informed that our resupply bag had been half munched by a Polar Bear. True enough, when we arrived at CP2, our bag was devoid of it's normal shape and was minus all chocolate! The sweet toothed bear had taken all our goodies!
On a more serious note, as well as the mental and physical challenge of the competition, we dedicate our involvement to the memory of Gareth Rowlands, my good friend Peter Rowlands' sixteen-year-old son.
One day in May 2003, Pete and his wife Helen received a call from Gareth's boarding school, informing them of the devastating news that Gareth had suddenly died from meningitis. Just a couple of hours before he had been playing rugby with the school team, joking with his friends and talking about coming home for the half-term break.
In 2006, Peter, Mark Waterson, Ben Fouracre and I will be rowing across the Atlantic in the inuagaral Atlantic Fours Rowing Race under the name Team Hesco (powered by Commando Joe). For more information about our challenges visit http://www.commando-joe.co.uk
For more information about the Polar Challenge "race to the pole" visit http://www.polar-challenge.com For more information about meningitis and the Meningitis Trust visit http://www.meningitis-trust.org.uk Thank you for your support and interest in this Challenge. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Meningitis Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Many thanks for your support.
On May 4, 2005, at 0721hrs, the Commando Joe (Polar) team comprising Charlie Martell, Steve Clewley MBE and Gary Bullen completed the Scott Dunn Polar Challenge in a record-breaking time of 9 days, 17 hours and 39 minutes.
The night before the race start, the temperature dropped to -28, with the first night of the race being even colder! As a team, we were fortunate enough to see 5 Polar Bears, 2 Caribou, a seal basking in the sun (!), 1 Arctic Fox, Hare and an Owl. Prior to arrival at checkpoint 2, we were informed that our resupply bag had been half munched by a Polar Bear. True enough, when we arrived at CP2, our bag was devoid of it's normal shape and was minus all chocolate! The sweet toothed bear had taken all our goodies!
On a more serious note, as well as the mental and physical challenge of the competition, we dedicate our involvement to the memory of Gareth Rowlands, my good friend Peter Rowlands' sixteen-year-old son.
One day in May 2003, Pete and his wife Helen received a call from Gareth's boarding school, informing them of the devastating news that Gareth had suddenly died from meningitis. Just a couple of hours before he had been playing rugby with the school team, joking with his friends and talking about coming home for the half-term break.
In 2006, Peter, Mark Waterson, Ben Fouracre and I will be rowing across the Atlantic in the inuagaral Atlantic Fours Rowing Race under the name Team Hesco (powered by Commando Joe). For more information about our challenges visit http://www.commando-joe.co.uk
For more information about the Polar Challenge "race to the pole" visit http://www.polar-challenge.com For more information about meningitis and the Meningitis Trust visit http://www.meningitis-trust.org.uk Thank you for your support and interest in this Challenge. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Meningitis Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Many thanks for your support.