"Race Me to the Pole" Says Adventurer Gavin Bate...

Adventurer Gavin Bate (Photo courtesy Hannah Rollings)

‘Race me to the Pole’ says adventurer Gavin Bate

STORY BY HANNAH ROLLINGS -

Tomorrow my boss and friend, philanthropist and adventurer Gavin Bate, aims to ski more than 550km from Resolute Bay in northern Canada to the magnetic North Pole. As part of the expedition, his aim is to raise £22,000 for the Moving Mountains Trust, an international development charity that he founded more than 10 years ago.

The ‘race’ to the pole will see donors pitted against Gavin in his journey across the thinning Arctic sea ice toward the Pole. Every pound donated by the ‘Donation Team’ is worth 25 metres of Gavin’s trek, and as he gets ever closer to the finish line the Donation Team will race to achieve their target of £22,000 worth of donations. Importantly, all of the money raised via donations associated with this expedition will go towards Moving Mountains Trust which supports sustainable development projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal and Borneo. Gavin covers all overheads himself via profits from his ethical adventure company, Adventure Alternative. It’s well known that tourism is one of the most over-exploited industries, especially in the developing world. Breaking the mould, Adventure Alternative was formed on a strict ethical policy, employing locals and offering them a fair wage, with benefits.

Moving Mountains’ primary aims are to provide aid for the relief of hardship, poverty, suffering and inequality through education and vocational training, medical treatment, sport and employment. Most importantly, in my mind, all projects are developed over a number of years with the local community; the community’s voice is actually heard! After completion, they are handed over to the community to manage alongside the Moving Mountains committees in each country.

Everyone can follow the daily progress made by Gavin and the Donation Team via the constantly updated race record at racemetothepole.com and via a host of other social media streams. Thanks to Yellow Brick tracking we will receive Gavin’s location every four hours. It’s near impossible for the team to carry any other form of (functioning) electronics due to temperatures that often reach -35C. 

To join the donation team in the Race to the Pole, text ‘POLE13 £1’ to 70070. You can substitute the £1 with £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. To learn about more about the expedition and to find out other ways to donate, visit the campaign website at www.racemetothepole.com

I’ll be back soon to update you on Gavin’s progress!



Dates: 

• Gavin left the UK on March 27, 2013 flying via Ottawa and Iqaluit to Resolute Bay. 
• Several days will be spent at Resolute Bay, packing and testing equipment. 
• Gavin is due to leave Resolute Bay on April 6, 2013 to begin the trek to the pole. The team are expected to reach the Pole on May 4, 2013. 

Social Media: 

Facebook Facebook.com/racemetothepole

Twitter @MMTrust #racemetothepole

LinkedIn Moving-Mountains-Trust

Contact: 

www.racemetothepole.com
Hannah Rollings
Moving Mountains Trust
info@movingmountainstrust.com

PO Box 14
Portstewart
Northern Ireland
BT55 7WS

+44 (0)28 708 31258