Prince Harry will take part in the Walking With the Wounded expedition this Sunday
Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince Harry will take part in the Walking with the Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge this Sunday. The expedition will have three teams of seven servicemen and women journey to the geographic South Pole.
Despite prior reports of a broken toe and flair up of an old back injury, Harry has kept the promise he made to WWTW.
Departing from London on Sunday, the teams from the United Kingdom, United States and the Commonwealth will fly to Cape Town.
On Tuesday, 19 November they will travel from Cape Town to Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctica where they will stay for a few days in order to acclimatise to the harsh Antarctic temperatures.
After the teams are accustomed to the severe change in climate they will head 87° south, where they will spend some additional time adjusting to the change in altitude.
The trek will commence on 30th November from 87° south with the target date of 16 December of reaching the geographic South Pole.
“The teams of service personnel, all of whom have physical or cognitive injuries, will race 335km across the Antarctic Plateau. The distance will be divided into managed stages and checkpoints and each team will have an experienced polar guide and nominated mentor. Due to the hostile conditions and the nature of the injuries involved, the expedition teams will be followed by a support team, who will be on hand in case of emergencies,” per the Kensington Palace statement issued today.
The teams will cover approximately 15km to 20km per day; will face temperatures that will be -45°C and endure 50mph winds all as they pull their 70kg or more sledges or ‘pulks’ as they are known on to their final destination.
WWTW’s goal is to raise awareness of the incredible courage, daily struggle and fierce determination of wounded servicemen and women. It is also to raise money to help assist in career placement and job training for the wounded and sick who are no longer serving.
The three teams will raise money and be representatives for their respective charities. The United Kingdom for WWTW, Australia for Soldier On, the United States for Soldiers to Summits and Canada for Soldier on.
“These men and women have given their all in the cause of freedom, in our cause, and that they should once again step into the breach, this time facing down the extreme physical and mental challenges of trekking to the South Pole, just underlines their remarkable qualities,” Prince Harry commented in the statement during the launch of South Pole Allied Challenge 2013.
In 2011, Harry was patron of the WWTW North Pole journey and in 2012 the expedition to Mount Everest.
photo credit: Walking With The Wounded via photopin cc
