Cambridge para-athlete begins South Pole ski

Jonny Huntington is aiming to be the first disabled person to ski to the South Pole solo and unsupported.

Fewer people have skied solo to the South Pole than have been into space, and no-one with a disability has ever attempted a solo, unsupported expedition to the South Pole.

Setting off on Monday 11 November 2024, Jonny Huntington is aiming to be the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported across 911 kilometres of Antarctic tundra.

Over the next forty days, he will be dragging all his equipment and food in a sled which will weigh in excess of 90kg.

Jonny explains why he is undertaking this huge adventure:

Photo: Josh Raper

In preparation, Jonny embarked on a mammoth 350-kilometre ultra-marathon from Manchester to London, testing the resilience of his body by putting it through similar stresses he will feel on his expedition, which took him eleven days.

Former GB para-athlete from Cambridge, Jonny Huntington:

"The whole trip was incredible in terms of the amount of support we got from everyone - all the mates that had us to stay, everyone who came out to keep me company on the run, and all of the partners and supporters throughout this whole project - it’s really incredible.

"The last day was cool, running through London, surrounded by friends and sponsors, going past some of our nation’s most iconic sights, two days before remembrance, was very cool!"

Jonny joined the army in 2013, training at Sandhurst to become an officer, and in June 2014, just eight weeks after commissioning into the British Army, Jonny was in the gym when he suffered a devastating stroke.

The neurological damage left Jonny paralysed down one side, and it took years of rehab before Jonny was able to fully walk again, and even then, he was left with restricted movement down his left side.

Jonny talks about what life has been like since his stroke:

Photo: Josh Raper

As part of Jonny's adventure, he will also be raising money for The Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team, Adaptive Grand Slam and Invictus Games Foundation charities.

He has also been visiting schools to show local children that anything is possible with self-belief and determination.