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In 2005 there was an article on BBC Look East saying
'Friends
of the Scott Polar Research Institute
in Cambridge were looking for volunteers to join
them on a fund-raising sponsored dog sled ride in the
arctic circle'. Eh?
Hanging onto a small wooden sled that was being pulled
by a team of large deranged huskies at full pelt, while
trying to see obstacles ahead in the blinding snow,
and in temperatures that would do severe damage to brass
monkeys? Oh yeah, sounds like a breeze!
Anyway I sent off an application form and unbelievable
I was chosen as one of just 12 people from all over
the UK to form the first ever husky sledding event run
by the SPRI. The rest, as they say, is history. To read
the full account of the 2006 trip click
here.
As SPRI paid for all the flights, equipment hire, guides,
food etc then each participant had to pledge to achieve
a minimum donation of three and a half thousand pounds
sterling. No pressure then! However that figure guaranteed
at least £1000 to the charity, and of course we
all hoped to raise more than that minimum amount (which
we did). That needed publicity (as I personally didn't
know 3500 people with a quid each), and one way to achieve
that was by using the Internet - hence the first (and
by now well known) Crazy Musher website. The original
version sits behind this fancy new facade by clicking
the 2006 Challenge button on the left of any page.
This is too barmy to contemplate, but having just tried
to reduce the UK population by 14 people the SPRI has
decided to do the challenge again in 2010, only this
time beginning in February!
Believe me this will be the 2006 challenge but up a
notch due to the possibility of a tad more severe weather.
But don't let that put you off, after all its for a
good cause and you will feel tremendous should you survive
(sorry, that should read when you finish...). You will
have raised a large sum of money for a very worthwhile
cause, and a newer, slimmer you will be completely at
peace with yourself when you get back to the UK. In
fact if you pack nothing else in your rucksack I suggest
you take all your troubles out there with you because
its a great place to lose them!
To get more info on the 2010 Challenge there is a button
on each page ready for your digit to press it!
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