In the footsteps of Captain Scott

In the footsteps of Captain Scott

1 January 2013

A NEWCASTLE man now living in Russia is preparing for an expedition to one of the coldest places on earth.

Niall Carton is heading into the heart of Antarctica with two of his friends to raise money for Cork-based charity — The Greater Chernobyl Cause — and its work at the Ivanovskoye Hospice in Russia.

The Newcastle man and his colleagues are embracing the spirit of previous polar explorers to the South Pole and will be following in the illustrious footsteps of Scott and Amundsen who reached it first in 1912.

Forty four year-old Niall will be joined by friends Alexey Borichev and Alexander Zozulya, with the trio departing from Punta Arenas in Chile shortly to fly to the Union Glacier base camp in Antarctica.

The team will then fly further to the 89th degree of the south latitude and start skiing towards the South Pole — a distance of about 60 miles — which they aim to reach on January 14.

Speaking from Russia in advance of his adventure in aid of charity, Niall explained temperatures will be as cold as -40C.

“There will be strong winds and altitudes varying from 2,500 to 3,000 metres. The trip is very demanding to the physical conditions and equipment,” explained Niall. “This is exactly the reason we started training and our preparation in the summer included gym work, swimming, squash, boxing, running and trekking.”

Niall explained the trio want to dedicate their adventure and effort to support the work of The Greater Chernobyl Cause and their work at the Ivanovskoye Hospice in Kostroma.

“This is a shelter for the old and infirm, which was cut from government support in 2010, condemning patients to a slow and painful death,” he said.

“Twelve months on and thanks to generous donations and the charity’s hard work, there have been major improvements to renovation, diet, medical care and hygiene. The Greater Chernobyl Cause has now reopened the Hospice but there is so much left to do. The plan is to have this facility fully renovated to provide a safe and secure place up to 25 residents.”

The Newcastle man has worked for banking giant ING for over 15 years, spending 10 years in London in various roles within the market risk management department. For almost five years he has been in Moscow, heading up the bank’s financial markets department.

“It was always a dream of mine to go to the North Pole and although I never expected to realise it I did it. It was a great opportunity to test my own limitations and drive and is a huge physical and mental challenge,” he revealed.

“To be able to realise a dream and at the same time raise money for a good cause like the Tula Orphanage was too good an opportunity to turn down. I enjoyed it so much that I have decided to go again this year but this time to the South Pole.”

Niall is also hoping people will join him on his special journey by following the team’s blog and sending them messages of support. He said the journey would be extra special if people support the event by donating money.

“Donations would be a massive help to those who are the most in need and defenceless,” he added.

• Donations can be made at www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/7679_niall-carton-s-fundraising-page—-from-the-north-pole-to-the-south-pole.html or by contacting Fiona Corcoran of The Greater Chernobyl Cause, Unit 4, South Side Industrial Estate, Pouladuff Road, Togher, Co. Cork, telephone 021 4323276 or  087 9536133. Her email address is  fiona@greaterchernobylcause.ie.