Roger Davies to lead Team Standard Life in the ‘World’s Toughest Race’ to the North Pole
On Sunday 29 March, 61 year old Roger Davies will set off from Cheam, Surrey, to lead Team Standard Life in the 2009 Polar Race, a 400 mile trek from Resolute Bay, Northern Canada to the North Pole.
Described as the ‘World’s Toughest Race’ it will see Roger and a team mate haul a sled, on foot, across hostile terrain and in extreme weather conditions against five other teams to be the first to the North Pole. Roger is using the expedition to raise money for his local charity, the Tadworth Children’s Trust, which supports children with multiple disabilities and complex health care needs.
Rhona Cameron, Head of Group Brand Strategy, Standard Life commented: “We are delighted to support Roger and help him to complete one of the most extraordinary physical challenges in the world. Roger epitomises what is possible by staying active and being ambitious into so called ‘old age’. He is an inspiration to us all and we wish him the very best of luck in the next few weeks.”
Roger Davies commented: “After months of preparation and training, I am tremendously excited to be about to set off for the Polar Race 2009. As I grow older, I have no intention of slowing down and being a typical retiree. My ambition was to get to the North Pole and I am very grateful for the support of Standard Life, without which this expedition would not have been possible.”
After 300 years, Harold Pinchbeck reaches the North Pole
In March 2009, 61-year old Roger Davies from Surrey will set off on foot from Resolute Bay in Canada, bound for the North Pole some 400 miles away. As well as the tough conditions, he has twenty other determined competitors to beat. Most are much younger, and none have just recovered, as Roger has, from major heart surgery .
On the plus side, he will be wearing a special handmade watch from Lincolnshire watchmaker Harold Pinchbeck - model named "Polar 2009"
“Roger was keen to wear an English watch for this race, so he contacted us about sponsorship” comments director Jason Edwards. “We are delighted because, although Pinchbeck watches have a 300 year history, we think this will be the first time that one of them has been to the North Pole. Roger’s watch will be specially prepared to keep accurate time at temperatures of -400c. The Harold Pinchbeck logo will be emblazoned across his clothing and equipment so that when the World’s TV crews and newspapers cover this historic race, the world can see that we backed an ordinary guy to achieve an extraordinary success. It is a great endorsement of our watches, and we are proud to be associated with Roger in the Polar Challenge.”