Strathspey's solo polar hero aims to pull off a world first
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Marking the first anniversary of his astonishing 700-mile, 60-day solo South Pole expedition, Carrbridge charity hero Ben Weber welcomed a full house at Boat of Garten’s community hall this week.
Then he announced that he wanted to do it all again, but bigger!
Strathy readers followed the epic trek inspired by the tragic death of his mother, Marian, whose illness had gone undiagnosed.
To raise awareness of the scientific shortcomings and to boost funds for the continued research into cancers, the former businessman spent weeks preparing for the heroic gesture and after setting out kept followers and friends fully informed of his progress by posting a daily podcast from ‘under the world’.
“Now I want to do the whole of the polar crossing solo,” he said on Monday.
"And the sooner the better.
"But I’ll need some serious sponsorship.
"I’m looking for a forward-looking distillery, say, to help me raise the £750,000 I would need to set me up for the preparations and the crossing.
“The next time will be an entire Antarctica crossing unsupported – and it will be the first one ever accomplished.I want to earn my place in the history books and set the pace for others!”
Hauling 130kg of supplies to the Pole on his Sledmund Hillary will be a pale memory, he intends, when hopefully he sets off to pull a 220kg convoy of sleds.
He is currently taking a two-year break as he battles with the world of academe, hoping to earn a PhD in business studies with the help of St Andrews University.
Once that mental exertion is out of the way he will return to the physical stuff, all being well.
Ben can be contacted through the Strathy via editorial@sbherald.co.uk
