Congratulations to Jonny Huntington who has become the first ever person with a disability to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.
British stoke survivor Jonny covered the 911km of Antarctic tundra with limited mobility down his left-hand side; a feat he completed in 45 days, 14 hours, 15 minutes.
Having set off from Fuchs-Messner on the edge of the Antarctic landmass on November 21, Jonny arrived at the South Pole on January 6 at around 5pm (GMT), officially making history as the first ever explorer with a disability to reach the South Pole alone.
“I’m exhausted – but so proud to make it to the pole and complete an expedition that many thought impossible,” said Jonny from the South Pole.
“It has pushed me to my limits – both mentally and physically – but there was no way I was going to give up. I just needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
“It is incredible to think that I am the first disabled person in history to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole, and it just proves that anything is possible with self-belief.
“I will never let my disability define me, and I hope that by reaching the finish line, it shows that no matter what life throws at you – with enough determination everyone can fulfil their own potential.”
On average, Jonny was skiing for 11 hours a day and dragging all his equipment and food in a sled which weighed more than 90kg, with everything he needed to survive the expedition.
Throughout the expedition he battled Arctic temperatures as low as -40 C and blistering 24-hour sunlight; huge ice formations called sastrugi and soft snow making progress challenging.
Following a stroke in 2014, at just 28 years old, Jonny was left with complete left-side paralysis from the neck down. After years of intense rehab, today Jonny lives with permanent brain damage resulting in a significant lack of strength, mobility and control down his left side.
Through his expedition, Jonny was raising money for four charities including the Invictus Games Foundation, Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team, Team Forces and The Adaptive Grand Slam Foundation. To donate, visit https://givestar.io/gs/south-pole-solo-expedition.
To find out more about Jonny’s expedition, visit www.jonnyhuntington.com or see @jonnyhuntington on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Photo credit: Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions
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