Team Arktix is Jay Neale, Andy Bruce and Oliver Sinclair - three friends taking on the Polar Challenge 2011. They are donating the money raised to help Global Action Plan develop our School Environmental Action toolkit.

The guys are currently training hard for the race start in April 2011. Follow their progress on Twitter or read their blog.

What spurred you to sign up for one of the most extreme races in the world?
OLLY: Since getting hooked on mountaineering and extreme endurance events I am always on the look out for interesting challenges in spectacular locations. So when fellow Ironman from Tri London, Andy B, told me he was part of a team entered to race to the North Pole and they needed one more person to complete, I literally jumped at the chance.

Why did you pick Global Action Plan to work with?
JAY: I am an environmental scientist for one of the world’s largest environmental and sustainability consultancies, Atkins Ltd, and as such, I had heard of the great work that Global Action Plan does. 

As a team, we’re all aware of the environment around us and the dangers it faces as a result of human actions and, from the very beginning of this journey, we have wanted to help inspire the generations of the future to create positive change. What better partner to have to do this than Global Action Plan? We have decided to help fund their Action at School programme, so that donors can actually see where their money is going and the difference that we are all making together.

The programme helps UK schools to save money and resources, typically increasing energy efficiency by 11% and reducing waste to landfill by a whopping 40%.  Personally, I’m looking forward to visiting some of the schools to share the experiences from our expedition. Social change is no easy task, so inspiring children at an early age about what they can achieve is the key to the success of all our futures.

We hear 80% of the world’s polar bears live on your travel route, what are you going to do if you come face to face with one?
ANDY: Well, if I actually come face to face with a bear, the outlook probably isn't great. Joking aside, we certainly hope to see some from a safe distance.  We are being issued with shotguns, but as a VERY last resort to scare them off! When we get to Resolute, part of our final training will teach us how to cope with encounters with polar bears so we can both have an enjoyable journey!

What would your message be to all those wanting to follow in your footsteps and raise awareness of environmental issues?
ALL: Find something that is both meaningful and achievable to you. It’s much easier to shout about something that you’re passionate about! Be expressive. Be proactive. Be persistent.

Donate

You can donate now on the Polar Challenge 2011 Just Giving page and check out how we work with schools to see the great work Team Arktix is helping to fund. 

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