Hello and thank you for visiting my fundraising page. You can also find out more about the expedition and sponsorship on my web site at www.southpole08.com.

As part of a small group of novice polar travellers, led by experts Mike and Fiona Thornewill, I will be attempting to walk to the South Pole in January 2008, to complete Shackleton’s Unfinished Journey of 100 years  ago and in the process, raise money for Children in Need.

The unsupported expedition entails living under canvas, walking on skis for 180km/112 statute miles, pulling 55kg/120lb sledges against unrelenting wind, in temperatures as low as minus 50°C and traversing enormous ice fields until we reach the South Pole at 3,000m/10,000 feet.

Update: The expedition successfully reached the Pole on January 21 at 21:00 GMT. All the team made it safely in and out of the Antarctic and are delighted with an amazing expedition. My fundraising will finish at the end of February, I will update the final values of funds raised shortly before then. Sincere thanks to everyone for all the fantastic support over the last year.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: BBC Children in Need 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.

So please dig deep and sponsor me now.

Many thanks for your support.

Murray Howitt

Main sponsors are Lafarge Cement, Arcelor Mittal Kent Wire and IHS