Woman's polar race

10:33am Tuesday 31st October 2006

Sarah Lucas, 26, from Beechingstoke, Pewsey, has been short listed as an entrant in The Polar Race 2007.

This unique race, defined as "probably the worlds toughest race", involves teams of two, three and four who will race on foot, or skis from Resolute Bay in the former North West Territories of Canada, some 400 miles to the finish line, the last certified position of the Magnetic North Pole.

Throughout the race, competitors are expected to man haul their food and equipment on sledges behind them. The race is expected to take some 30 days and competitors will be expected to fend for themselves in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees C, whilst avoiding open water and being aware of the very real danger of polar bear.

Sarah currently lives in Hammersmith, London and works as a property negotiator for Winkworths in Kensington.

A keen sportswoman, she completed her first London Marathon in 2006 in 3 hours 40 minutes and is currently Captain of the Ladies 1st XI at Marlborough Hockey Club. As well as hockey, Sarah is carrying out specific stamina training which is being guided by London South Bank University's Human Performance Centre.

Sarah will embark on this adventure with her great friend Charlotte Eddington. This intrepid duo, known as "The Blue Tits", first met on the hockey pitch at Reading University in 2000 and they now feel it is time to up the stakes as they set out to be the youngest, all female team to reach the North Pole.

The principal organiser is one of Britain's leading modern day adventurers, Jock Wishart, aided by four long standing colleagues Simon Marshall, Neill Williams, Gary Walker and fellow adventurer David Hempleman-Adams.

This team has enormous experience in the adventure arena with numerous firsts to their credit. In 1996 they organised "the expedition with a difference", the Ultimate Challenge, when they successfully took 10 novices selected from 500 applicants on the first ever televised trek to the North Magnetic Pole. This historic event has now been turned into a race which was run successfully for the first time in 2003 and again in 2005.

Over the course of the next nine months, Sarah and Charlotte will be raising money for Cancer Research UK, a cause very close to their hearts. Cancer Research UK aims to conquer cancer through world-class research.

It is the UK's leading cancer charity, with a dedicated team of 3,000 scientists and an annual scientific spend of around £213 million. Its funds are raised almost entirely through voluntary donations.

Sarah commented: There is no turning back. We only committed ourselves to the race in July and we always knew it was going to be a race against the clock. With our training programme mapped out for the next six months the hard work has now begun to ensure that we are physically and mentally prepared for what has been and will be the most amazing and revealing personal discovery we are ever likely to undertake.

For further details see the Polar Race website at www.PolarRace.com.