Basingstoke ObserverRECORD breaking local adventurer James Ketchell departs today, Thursday 28 April for Greenland where he will undertake an unsupported 400 mile ski across Greenland from Kangerlussuaq in the West to Isortoq in the East.
Ketchell, from Basingstoke, will be part of a small team of five; each person will be pulling a pulk (sled) of around 100 kilos containing all the rations, equipment and supplies for the month-long expedition.
Ketchell is raising money for his chosen charity Kindled Spirit www.kindledspirit.org.uk which empowers vulnerable young women through education and training and has inspired James since meeting the charity’s founder in Mumbai, India whilst completing his 2013 round the world cycle ride.
Of the expedition James said: “I am excited to be setting off on my latest challenge after, like many people, two years at home. With temperatures regularly at -20c and weather conditions changeable the team will need to work together when not ski-ing to pitch camp and cook every day for a month.
I hope that by undertaking this next challenge I can inspire other young people to take on challenges and push themselves to achieve things they find hard – something I have been talking about every day in schools during the last six months.
To be able to support the charity Kindled Spirit is very important to me as I feel a deep connection with its work since meeting vulnerable women in Mumbai. The charity is now able to help them to gain independence and a vocation and therefore achieve independence.”
During the last six months James has been on a National schools tour speaking to thousands of pupils and giving them much needed motivation and inspiration since their return to the classroom after the last two years.
Whilst in Greenland James will be staying connected to the schools he has visited via satellite phone calls; updating them on his adventures and taking the children on a virtual field trip, as well as leaving voice updates via a ‘Greenland live tracking link’ at www.jamesketchell.net.
In addition he will be filming and providing content and learning for Oddizzi, an online Geography resource for Primary schools; for its future use in providing educational Geography resources and activities for schools to use in lessons.
James’ expedition is possible due to sponsorship from Barratt Developments plc and DHL.
