If this is not inspiring, you’re probably dead.
‘When im in the mountains I feel more at home than anywhere else, to me they’re the only place that gives me freedom and that brings a feeling of complete calm thats makes nothing else matter, time slows down and it’s the coolest feeling in the world.’ – Andy Campbell
Andy Campbell plans to travel 30 000 miles (48 280.32 kilometers) around the world by ‘non-motorised means’ which qualifies as an epic challenge by anyone’s standards. Can you imagine attempting something like this? Even if the whole thing was handed to you on a financed, scheduled and supported expedition platter? How many of us possess the mental and physical toughness to even dream it? It’s a massive undertaking for anyone, let alone a man in a wheelchair.
Campbell broke his back in a climbing accident almost eight years ago and is taking on this monumental, never-before-attempted challenge in an effort to raise £1,000,000 for The Chutkara Initiative. to fund mobility equipment for people affected by spinal cord injury around the world.
His planned route is split between two consecutive legs – UK to China and then Alaska to Chile. He won’t be sticking to the smooth tar roads and pavements or even confining himself only to a wheelchair either.
‘Rather than fighting against the infinitely varying terrain throughout the journey, I plan to embrace it and use it to help wherever possible; I’ll kayak rivers and oceans, paraglide over mountain ranges, ski over snow covered plains, kite-buggy across deserts and handcycle remote trails to keep going.’
He will depart the UK in June 2012 and expects the expedition to take about two years. The adventurer will have a volunteer support team of two people on three month rotation tracking his progress and assisting throughout. If you have three months to spare you can apply to join the expedition.
There’s a great Andy Campbell interview at www.adventure-journal.com.
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