Wimbledon's Own Ice Warriors Aim To Help Break World Record

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Women are part of first team in history striving to reach remote Arctic spot

Two intrepid Wimbledon women have been chosen for a world record attempt to reach the remote Northern Pole of Inaccessibility in the Arctic.

Jolanta Krzyzostaniak and Anna Macphie, who both live in Wimbledon town centre, have been picked to be part of the first team in history to reach the spot which is defined as the furthest point from land on the Arctic Ocean and therefore its centre.

The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility remains the last truly significant place in the Polar Regions yet to be reached by mankind and is over 200 miles further than the Geographic North Pole. The whole journey will be near to 800 miles from the northern shores of Canada and will take in the North Magnetic Pole on route.

Along the route the team will be gathering crucial datasets for the scientific community including new and vital data about how the sea ice breaks up, making the whole endeavour a major, globally significant, citizen science project.

Partners include NASA, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) scientists, The Met Office, The Scott Polar Institute, The Norwegian Polar Institute and the Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.

Having been selected for the ‘Ice Warrior #Lastpole Expedition’, the two women are now undergoing a comprehensive and intensive training programme to take on at least one of four 20-day legs, pushing the route across the Arctic Ocean by approximately 200 miles.

Jolanta is a 45-year-old nature-lover who spent the last few years helping her mother fight her fight with Motor Neurone; a 5 year-long battle that ended last year and made her realise what it truly means not to take any one day for granted.

She said: "I decided to take on meaningful and purposeful challenges that will make a difference in someone else’s life and make her feel most alive; so when she heard about the #Lastpole Expedition my heart was immediately captured and I couldn’t think of one reason not to join."

She is being supported to carry out her challenge by husband Kris and 23-year-old daughter Karolina.

Anna is a 29-year-old conservationist working in monitoring the international wildlife trade and has an active interest in and care for the natural world. She also runs 2nd Belmont Guides.

Anna says she hopes to challenge herself and show young girls what can be achieved by pushing yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone. She is looking forward to contributing to the gathering of data to assist in the fight against climate change and furthering knowledge of the Arctic environment.

The exhibition will be led by Jim McNeill, one of the world’s most experienced and respected polar explorers and founder of the Ice Warrior Project. He said: "I’m delighted to see the team coming together and see ordinary people from all walks of life committing themselves to achieving something quite extraordinary. I look forward to training them to become competent polar travellers."

November 3, 2017