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| Thanks to everyone who is helping and supporting us – this wouldn’t be possible without you! |
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Lee Beniston
About:
Hi, my name's Lee Beniston, I’m currently a Bioscience student at the University of Leeds where I hope to progress to post-graduate research. I enjoy many different sports including; squash, cycling, swimming and cross-country running. I've represented the university in several squash tournaments as part of the team in 2006, although with the dawn of the South Pole expedition, my focus has shifted to training for the coming challenge. In my spare time I'm interested in wildlife photography, marine aquariums and generally anything |
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| outdoors (including competitions such as Toughguy UK!). I can also be found socialising with friends and family, and of course . . . working toward my degree! |
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| I've competed in a host of different sports in the past such as; powerlifting, cycling, running as well as being an Ironman competitor. I'm hoping that this past experience will at least give me a shot at the fierce training that lies ahead of me and indeed the team during these next two years, particularly the ice cliff climbing! |
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| Having always wanted to be part of something unique, dangerous and exciting - I decided to join the team. However, aside from wanting a personal sense of achievement, other reasons for my participation in the challenge are those of inspiration and motivation. I see this challenge as a real opportunity to help people of all ages, especially young people, to realise their potential and make them want to achieve more out of life. Studying science has also made me appreciate more the environment in which I will be living for two months and just how unique Antarctica really is - what an opportunity! |
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Nick Dobbs
About:
Hi, my name’s Nick Dobbs. I’m a medical student at Newcastle University and a keen cross country runner. I really love the outdoors, and enjoy getting back to nature, working with nature to survive outside with what materials and food exist naturally in the wild. When I should be working for my degree I’m usually found either cooking, eating, running or playing poker with my flat mates. Over the coming weeks and months, my life will become increasingly dominated by the South Pole Challenge, with demands on my time for training,
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| organising and fund raising, all while learning 9 till 5 in hospitals around the North East. |
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| When people find out that I’m going to the South Pole, I’m often asked why? During school I was the most unfit person I knew. That changed when I decided to run the Robin Hood Marathon. Initially I’d go for a 10 minute jog and be bent over double, gasping for breath. By the end I was running for hours at a time. When I crossed the finish line I was filled with a new-self belief which I try to put into everything I do. |
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| Since then I’ve spent a year in the Officer Training Corps, crawling around frozen woodlands during my weekends. This taught me the discipline and organisation it takes to survive outside, navigation skills and a new appreciation of team work. My passion for running has continued too, having run the BUPA Great North Run for charity in 2006, and represented Newcastle University in various Cross Country races this year. |
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As well as my personal drive, I want the challenge to stand as an example to young people across the nation that if they dream something, and if they want it enough, nothing can stand in their way. All it takes is determination, hard work and some good friends. |
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Oliver Stuart
About:
Ever since a young age I've always enjoyed being involved in activities, more so the out door type - out in the elements facing what's there to be challenged. I have a passion and determination for such activities.
It's these attributes and more which helped me complete events such as, the Ten Tours 35 & 45 challenges, which I did with the Air Training Corps (ATC). It was here I learnt communication skills, self-discipline and |
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| how to be organised and punctual. Upon leaving the ATC, I'd reached the rank of sergeant which impacted further my team leadership, organisation and management skills. Consequently, I became a core team-player and motivator. |
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| Personally, I'm doing this expedition because I've always dreamt of doing the ultimate challenge - something that will demand that I push myself to my limits. Further to this, knowing that many others will benefit from this challenge is unspeakably rewarding. |
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| So far I've put all hobbies aside (including Break Dancing!) so that progress can be made with the expedition. Development of training programmes, gathering training gear and the planning of pre-challenge expeditions to Greenland are just a hint at the progress that's being made. I and the team are fully aware of the dangers and challenges involved with this expedition, but knowing these only makes our determination stronger by the day; we are here to succeed. |
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