Charity
Battling the Arctic to Conquer Mental Health
Expedition Limitless is a monumental challenge that consists of a team of 13 embarking on a self-supported 110km trek through the minus 25 degrees Arctic Circle in the hope to raise £50,000 for Manx Charity, Isle Listen. ‘Who dares wins’ bests describes this group of volunteers who have given up their time and invested their own money to support this worthy cause.
The expedition will take place between 26th March and 4th of April where they will travel on foot pulling sledges from Abisko to Nikalokta. The team leader is Phillip Quirk who is the founder of Omniamind and is the main organiser of the challenge. Phil said: ‘It would be great to get past £40,000 just on this training with the view then that we’re only £10,000 away. £50,000 is the target but we are hoping to smash through that. So any donations would be absolutely welcome.’
The other team members are Sian Coleman, Martin Malone, Karl Staniford, Charlene Cooper, Mark Kelly, James Mathieson-Nelson, Shannon Groves, Martin Hall, Gill Baker, Diane Gallagher, Marcus Ranney and Raina Ranney. All have stories of their own and have experienced the impact of mental health in one way or another. Collectively, the team wish to test their resilience and mindset of their perceived limits and beyond.
Most importantly they want to break the stigma surrounding mental health and help in any way to support those who are struggling. One of the team members Sian revealed: ‘we all have our moments when we feel low and we all know someone out there who is suffering with their mental health. I think part of witnessing someone who is struggling is feeling so hopeless and out of your depth and not knowing what the right processes are. So let’s support the people who are already doing an incredible job and let’s just help them continue the work that they are already doing.’
This week Expedition Limitless set its eyes on Indal, Sweden. Here they have begun their all-important survival training in this harsh climate with the Artic Bear Grylls, Matt Larsson-Clifford.
Sian said: ‘The training has been incredible. I feel like I’ve learnt so many life skills already. We’ve been learning how to build survival shelters and snow holes. If you get into trouble you can burrow into the snow hole and keep yourself safe until you get rescued.’ It has also been essential for the team to learn how to build fires, especially after an ice rescue.
During the training, all of the team must plunge into a hole in an iced-over lake to simulate falling through the ice and demonstrate a successful self-rescue. At the start of the week, Phil demonstrated to the team a proficient self-rescue and Sian explained it was petrifying to watch. ‘The worst part about the ice rescue is knowing that is minus 16 degrees and having to undress and be barefoot in the snow. It’s just harrowing.’
On Friday, the rest of the team must complete the ice rescue. The individual who goes first is completely up to the public. The member to receive the most sponsorship by Thursday 26th at 8 pm will be the first to make the jump and in fancy dress.
For the team, every time a donation is made a beacon of encouragement is felt by all. Sian said: ‘It’s such an encouragement personally that people believe in you and want to see us as a team succeed. I’m feeling so grateful and fortunate. The team is absolutely amazing.’
If you have a team member in mind you’d like to see plunge into a freezing cold lake in fancy dress then donate over at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/expeditionlimitless23
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