The pole2pole project took 2yrs of planning to include establishing a charity, attracting key resources, raising funds and securing collaborative partnerships with key organisations in further endorsing key project objectives. A discussion between Miles Peckham [Managing Director of Watermark Event Management Ltd, Co-founder and Chairman of Trustees of The Muscle Help Foundation] and Michael McGrath [Co-founder, Chief Muscle Warrior, CEO] generated the idea of the pole2pole project following on from the success of the North Pole.
The first expedition to the North Pole was a pre-defined event organised by Christopher Cope, at that time in 2002 Head of Development at Benchmark Group Plc [central London property investment and development company]. The objective was to raise funds for MDC [Muscular Dystrophy Campaign of Great Britain]. This expedition was officially called The Christopher Cope North Pole Expedition.
Michael McGrath [then a Trustee of Muscular Dystrophy Campaign] approached Christopher Cope with a view to joining his expedition to help raise more awareness and funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Michael’s first task was to raise his own expedition costs and recruit two additional team members, namely Major Craig Ketty-Williams and Miles Peckham. The second task was to assess and overcome the logistical challenges presented by Michael’s limited mobility. Christopher Cope walked the last degree with his team led by Geoff Somers. Michael aided by Christopher Cope walked the last 150 metres to the Geographic North Pole, each metre symbolically representing those in the UK who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy.
Through Michael McGrath’s participation in the North Pole expedition, further media interest was generated including Sky News. Following on from the success of the North Pole expedition and in looking to complete a trilogy of challenging fundraising events, Michael shared his determination to create a second standalone project with Miles Peckham, who had previously accompanied him to the North Pole. A strategy was identified and an operational plan was pulled together with the sole focus of reaching the South Pole. Michael McGrath has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (type 2A on chromosome 15); he was diagnosed in 1983, aged 18yrs. In the UK, 1 in approximately every 3500 boys are born with the life-limiting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) type, the most severe and common form of Muscular Dystrophy – by the age of 8 to 11yrs, DMD boys cannot walk. Most will die from heart or respiratory failure by their early to mid-20’s. Muscular Dystrophy is a complex disease and although not well-known, it is becoming increasingly heard-of as a result of the work of a number of charity's in this space. Muscular Dystrophy affects very approximately 3.5 to 4 million people worldwide.
pole2pole was an opportunity to raise the bar in terms of global awareness and funds. As a sufferer of Muscular Dystrophy, Michael McGrath’s circulatory system is less efficient than most able-bodied people as a direct result of the disease. One of the side effects is that sufferers feel the cold considerably more, particularly in their extremities, their hands, feet and toes and in Michael’s case, specifically his legs.
With the way human nature is, it is apparent that the more extreme the endeavour, the greater the media interest which in turn drives the message – all the more remarkable for a person with Muscular Dystrophy to cope with the extreme environments of both the Arctic and Antarctic.
The Honourable Alexandra Shackleton, granddaughter of Sir Ernest Shackleton was the pole2pole Patron.
Official Expedition Report
