Best of luck to David, who’s taking part in a 430 mile race for charity. Ed
Isle of Wight resident David Berridge is a very tough cookie. He has undertaken many arduous and gruelling challenges over the past few years, but none more so that the one on which he is about to embark, to raise funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
430 mile race
David said, “On 6th February this year I shall be starting one of the biggest challenges of my life. The Yukon Arctic Ultra is billed as being the ‘coldest, toughest, Ultra distance race in the world’ and there have only been nine people to have finished the race! I shall be racing the 430 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City, Yukon, in North West Canada, crossing frozen lakes and rivers, racing through forests and clambering over mountains.
“All the athletes must be totally self sufficient and carry everything needed for the 13 day time limit for the challenge. All the equipment will be pulled in a sledge called a pulk, and we will be sleeping, eating and cooking outside in temperatures that one year reached -61 degrees. I have raced in the arctic, Sahara, Himalayas the Amazon jungle and recently the Kalahari Desert but this race will be, without a shadow of doubt, my toughest adventure yet!”
Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, John Perry, said, “I am amazed and humbled at this extraordinary challenge which David is taking on for our benefit. I can only imagine how extreme the conditions will be for him, and we all wish him well, and to come back safely. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance receives no government or national lottery funding, and is only flying and saving lives through the generosity of people such as David, who give their time, expertise and energy to help maintain the service.”
You can support David’s fundraising through his Just Giving Page.
