Standard Chartered sponsors Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ “The Coldest Journey” in aid of Seeing is Believing

The six-month expedition next year is being called “The Coldest Journey”, and will see the team of six crossing nearly 4,000 kilometres, mostly in complete darkness in temperatures as low as -90°C.

The exploration team intends to raise $5 million for Seeing is Believing (SiB) - a global initiative led by Standard Chartered and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to tackle avoidable blindness in developing countries.

On December 6, 2012, the expedition team will set out from London on the South African research ship ‘SA Agulhas’, bound for Antarctica. On March 21, 2013, they will begin the six month journey to reach the Ross Sea. Their route from the Russian base of Novolazareskaya (‘Novo’) to Captain Scott’s base at McMurdo Sound - via the South Pole – will test the limits of human endurance.

Previously, the furthest any expedition has ever ventured into Antarctica during the winter is 60 miles. The team will have to be entirely self-sufficient. There will be no search and rescue facility available, as aircrafts cannot penetrate inland during winter due to darkness and risk of fuel freezing.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes said: “This will be my greatest challenge to date. Britain and the Commonwealth have a strong heritage of exploration, from Captain Cook 300 years ago to the present day. As such it is fitting that a Commonwealth team should be the first to fulfil this last great polar expedition."
Every dollar raised is matched by Standard Chartered, doubling the impact SiB can make on the ground, and bringing the total the team aim to raise to $10 million. Since its launch in 2003, the programme has reached over 28 million people.

“I have been on some amazing expeditions and seen many of the beautiful and unique sights the world has to offer. When I discovered Seeing is Believing, what it stood for, and understood how easily avoidable blindness could be prevented it inspired me and my colleagues to undertake this challenge. It is a fantastic cause and I would urge everyone who follows our progress to donate to it,” Ranulph said.

During their sea voyage, the team will undertake a number of scientific tasks to provide unique data on marine life, oceanography and meteorology. Using the very latest technological innovations, this epoch-making journey will pave the way for a new dawn in Antarctic, year round exploration, and make a decisive contribution to our understanding of the effect of climate change upon the poles.

Scientists on board the ice-strengthened Antarctic, SA Agulhas - a ship generously provided by the South African Maritime Safety Authority - will make detailed oceanographic, marine biological and meteorological observations on behalf of a number of research bodies around the world.

The expedition also offers a unique opportunity to generate diverse, engaging, real-time educational content for schools, with far-reaching educational value and study opportunities encompassing maths, history, geography, biology and physics, there to inspire young people in the possibilities of high achievement.

More than 43,000 schools in the UK and hundreds of thousands of schools throughout the Commonwealth will be able to follow the expedition’s progress, take part in competitions, and study fully integrated curriculum modules.