After more than a year of planning, Lee Graham, James McCorkindale, along with one other, will make up a three man team taking on a challenge that has never been attempted before crossing Svalbard from east to west on a completely new route through the high Arctic.

This will be a completely unsupported expedition, meaning we must carry everything we need to survive. We will cover over 350km through one of the most extreme environments on Earth, battling freezing conditions while pulling 75kg pulks loaded with our supplies. Our journey will take us over open sea ice, up and over glaciers, and through some of the most unforgiving terrain on the planet, all while navigating deep crevasses and the constant threat of polar bears.

There will be no outside help, no resupply points, and no safety net. If anything goes wrong, rescue in such a remote and hostile landscape could take days making this one of the toughest challenges in the Arctic. But no matter how tough this journey is, it is nothing compared to what some families go through every single day.

Why we’re doing this

We are taking on this extreme challenge to raise funds for Hope House Children’s Hospice, a charity that provides vital care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. These families face challenges no one should ever have to endure knowing their child may not have a long life and struggling to make every precious moment count.

Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith hospices are a lifeline for these families. They offer:

Specialist nursing care to manage pain and symptoms

Respite stays, giving exhausted families a break

Emotional and practical support for parents and siblings

End-of-life care to ensure dignity and comfort

Bereavement counselling, helping families navigate unimaginable loss

For many of these children, time is short. But with the right care, that time can be filled with love, joy, and treasured memories. Hope House ensures that no family has to face this journey alone.

How you can help

Hope House receives only a small percentage of its funding from the government and relies almost entirely on donations to continue its work. It costs around £7.5 million a year to keep the hospices running, and without support, some families might not get the help they desperately need.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Your donation will help provide:

Specialist nurses and carers to support children 24/7

Therapy and support services for struggling families

End-of-life care that ensures dignity and comfort

Bereavement counselling, helping parents and siblings cope with loss

If you can, please donate via our JustGiving page: [insert link].

If you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this page could help us reach more people and raise more funds for this incredible cause.

Follow our journey

If you would like to follow our journey, we will be posting updates on our Instagram profiles, weather and satellite internet permitting, throughout the expedition. You can find us at:

@the_wildwelshman

@lee.d.graham1

Why your support matters

We are pushing ourselves to the absolute limit—crossing one of the harshest environments on Earth with no outside help—so that families facing the hardest challenge of all get the care and support they deserve.

No parent should ever have to say goodbye to their child, but if the worst happens, Hope House ensures they are surrounded by love, care, and dignity.

Please help us make a difference.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Lee , James