Devon stroke survivor begins South Pole challenge
Jonny Huntington is aiming to become the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole
An army veteran from Devon who suffered a stroke at the age of 28 is aiming to become the first disabled person to ski solo and unsported to the South Pole.
Jonny Huntington, who's now 38, has officially begun his mission, setting off from Fuchs-Messner on the edge of the Antarctic landmass on 21st November at 21:15hrs UK time.
He's going to ski 911km across frozen Antarctic tundra climbing 3,000m on his way to the pole.
It's expected to take 40 days, during which time he will be battling minus 40 degree temperatures and vicious winds, all whilst pulling a 110kg sled and managing his physical limitations.
Jonny says, “This is a massive undertaking for an able-bodied person. Add my restricted movements, especially my lower leg, and it takes the challenge to a whole new level.
“I’ll be skiing in 24hr daylight, which is really nice, but the winds can get up to 50 or 60mph which will be challenging, especially when I’m trying to pitch my tent alone, but I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other towards the finish line.”
Jonny joined the army in 2013, training at Sandhurst to become an officer. In June 2014, just eight weeks after commissioning into the British Army, Jonny was in the gym when he suffered a devastating stroke.
The neurological damage left Jonny paralysed down one side.
It took years of rehab before Jonny was able to fully walk again, and even then, he was left with significantly restricted movement down his left side.
During his recovery Jonny became a member of the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST), which fuelled his love of cross-country skiing.
This led to Jonny becoming one of the first athletes in a new GB Para Nordic ski team, where he competed from 2017 to 2020 at international level at World Cups in Lviv, Ukraine and Vuokatti, Finland, as well as the inaugural European Paralympic Committee Games in Poland in 2020.
“Through the expedition to the South Pole we are breaking boundaries within the disabled community and pushing the idea of human potential,” said Jonny.
“For me, this expedition is about challenging myself, about pushing myself further than I've ever pushed my body before.
“I believe that going through the process of being injured, going through rehab and then having to pick life back up after that meant that, for me, there was a serious conflation of being disabled meant that I couldn’t do things.
“My hope is that this expedition will highlight that disability does not mean inability and no challenge is insurmountable. It’s about confidence and self-belief.”
Through his expedition, Jonny will be 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