Former Ely para-athlete sets off on ultra-marathon ahead of world record South Pole trek
He's aiming to become the first disabled person to complete the journey
A former para-athlete who grew up in Ely and suffered a life-changing stroke is bidding to become a world record breaker by skiing to the South Pole.
Jonny Huntington is aiming to become the first disabled person to ski there solo and unsupported when he travels to Antarctica next year.
And today, he is preparing for that record attempt when he starts an ultra-marathon from Manchester to London which he plans to complete within 11 days.
"Being the first disabled person to ski solo to the South Pole doesn't mean anything to me if no one else cares," Jonny said.
"It's like 'the one thing I can't do is walk properly or run at all, so what am I going to do?'
"I'm either going to ignore it or I'm going to look at it and think I enjoy the process of running, so let's try."
Years of rehab meant Jonny could finally walk again
Jonny joined the British Army in 2013 when he was training at Sandhurst to become an officer but in June 2014, he suffered a brain bleed while in the gym.
This left Jonny paralysed down one side and after years of rehab, was able to fully walk again.
After becoming a member of the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST), he represented Great Britain's para-Nordic ski team between 2017 and 2020, taking part in international tournaments including the European Paralympic Committee Games three years ago.
Jonny wants to use his world record ski, which he aims to complete in 40 days, to raise money for the AFPST, Adaptive Grand Slam and Invictus Games Foundation charities.
He's been training for this event during the last two-and-a-half years, and last summer covered around 620 miles (1,000km) on the South West Coast Path.
"If I can help someone else to have the confidence and self-belief to go out there and try to achieve something they didn't think was possible, that's why I'm doing this," Jonny added.
"This ultra-marathon is about demonstrating to people the power of what one can achieve when one is motivated."