BARB plays a part in record breaking Pole trek (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

BARB plays a part in record breaking Pole trek

5:43pm Thursday 31st January 2008

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CREWMEMBERS from a Burnham lifesaving charity have been helping a pair of pioneering explorers in their bid to become the first team to ever reach the North Pole by hovercraft.

Self-employed Bridgwater man Simon Marshall and close pal Alex Henney from London are bidding to break all known records by reaching the landmark in a 400kg hovercraft.

In their quest to reach the Pole in one piece, the adventurers are looking to raise at least £50,000 for Burnham hovercraft charity BARB in return for some expert training.

Alex and Simon spent last weekend on a training session with BARB lifesavers taking part in a rescue flight along the Burnham coast.

Alex said: "Getting the time to train on the hovercraft is crucial and it's been fantastic that the team at Burnham have not only given us the chance to use their equipment, but to learn from their wealth of experience of using these vehicles in harsh environments."

BARB chairman Mark Newman said the team was delighted to help the pair make their groundbreaking mission a success.

"Not only will they help to raise funds for BARB, but our crews will also benefit from the experience of working with them", he said.

The concept is the brainchild of management consultant Simon after spending over a decade organising logistics for numerous expeditions to the Arctic.

He told the Weekly News: "I am always looking for new challenges and the idea just came into my head. Most expeditions to the Arctic have been done now so we will be the first to ever attempt this particular challenge."

The pair set off on their voyage in April next year where they will come face-to-face with freezing temperatures, polar bears and potentially hazardous storms - but is Simon daunted?

"No I'm really looking forward to it and this is probably the most excited I have ever been about any expedition and I am extremely confident that we can pull this off", he added.

With 15 months until departure day, the pair have just started putting the wheels in motion as they look to build a vessel capable of making it 1,000 miles to the North Pole.

Simon said: "We now have a lot more hard work ahead of us with more training and raising the funds required to make the expedition a reality".

The team is now inviting sponsorship from South West-based companies and will be keeping an online journal on their website - www.hovercrafttothepole.com.

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