Homebase trading director and co-workers finish charity South Pole trek

A team of Milton Keynes Homebase battled fierce winds and treacherous temperatures to undertaken a successful expedition to the South Pole and raise money for homeless charity, Centrepoint.

Andrew Carnie and his co-workers, from Homebase training centre on Aylsbury Boulevard, undertook the expedition to raise £250,000 for Centrepoint, who provide emergency accommodation and shelter for young people in London.

Despite wind speeds of up to 80mph and -40C temperatures, dragging 75kgs of food and equipment a day as well as suffering a fractured arm during the expedition, Team Homebase completed their epic journey over 704km.

Mr Carnie said: “It was the hardest thing I have ever encountered.

“We trained for months on end, and the cold, the landscape and the various misadventures we had along the way provided some real challenges, but at no point did I think we wouldn’t complete it.”

The race took 23 days to complete, with the team following in the footsteps 100 years after Sir Robert Scott’s fateful expedition.

As with that race, a Norwegian team were first to the pole this time too, breaking a new Extreme World Races record by over a day, but unlike many of the teams, Andrew was a relative novice, having ‘only’ run the North Pole marathon in 2010.

Mr Carnie said: “Centrepoint does an excellent job helping to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society – homeless young people.

“The thought of raising essential money for them, kept us going through some of the low points but it was worth doing everything we did to help make a difference.”

Homebase kindly agreed to be a sponsor for the endeavor and colleagues have been supportive.

The company has also been involved in providing work experience opportunities for homeless young people through Centrepoint’s Workwise initiative.

Mr Carnie said:” The workwise initiative is powerful because it gives young people their first experience of the working world; helps persuade them to believe they are employable and provides invaluable experience for their next job application.

“Simple, practical support like this can dramatically change lives.”

So far Team Homebase for Centrepoint has raised over £200,000 in their South Pole challenge but are still looking to reach their goal of £250,000.

People can still sponsor them by going to www.justgiving.com/South-Pole-Race-2012 http://www.justgiving.com/South-Pole-Race-2012

Source : MK News
www.mk-news.co.uk/News/Homebase-team-in-pole-position-16022012.htm