Westminster Challenge is delighted to donate the walking distance they amassed during the Arctic Challenge to the International Brain Tumour Alliance’s Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours campaign

The International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) was established during the conference of the World Federation of Neuro Oncology held at Edinburgh (UK) in May 2005. It seeks to be an alliance of the support, advocacy and information groups for brain tumour patients and carers in different countries and also includes researchers, scientists, clinicians and allied health professionals who work in the area of brain tumours.

To read more please visit:
IBTA

Hosted by HE Vygaudas Usackas, Lithuanian Ambasssador to The Court of St James

To welcome back our intrepid team of explorers HE Vygaudas Usackas hosted a welcome back reception, welcoming Westminster Challenge to The Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania.

Joined by the Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish Ambassadors to London, Ambassador Usackas congratulated them team on all their impressive achievement.

From Left: Patrick Costello, Jenny Willott MP, Phil Pyatt, Richard Stephenson, HE Vygaudas Usackas, Emily Thornberry MP, Martin Field, Merrilees Parker, Tobias Ellwood MP, Chris Golding

On 30 January MPs Tobias Ellwood and Jenny Willott visited a pioneering cancer research laboratory.

They toured laboratories and saw at first hand how basic research, aimed at understanding how normal cells in the body become cancers, is providing a foundation for developing new and more effective ways of preventing and treating the disease.

Tobias and Jenny met with Doctor Nancy Hogg, Head of the Leukocyte Adhesion Lab, who talked about her research, and Richard Davidson, Cancer Research UK’s Director of Policy & Public Affairs who discussed the current issues facing the charity.




















Cancer Research UK is the leading funder of cancer research in the UK. It funds the work of 3,500 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK in more than 35 towns and cities across the UK. The charity employs its own scientists as well as supporting grant-funded researchers in UK universities, medical schools and institutes.

Matthew Parris

On 6 February 2007, Westminster Challenge hosted an exclusive talk with the journalist and former Conservative MP Matthew Parris.

The event will be held at Chandos House, 6.30-8.30. Please email
christopher@keithraffan.co.uk to reserve your ticket.

Tickets costs £35 per person, with funds raised going towards Crimestoppers, The Children’s Society and Cancer Research UK.

Husky dog training

On Sunday 28 February MPs Tobias Ellwood, Emily Thornberry, Ed Vaizey and Jenny Willott gathered in Epping Forrest. The goal of the day was for the MP team to do some much needed husky dog training in preparation for their Arctic expedition.

The team were also lucky enough to be spend the day with the polar explorer Victoria Riches, who was able to pass on advise from years of experience.

Jenny Willott races along on the practice sled





Ed Vaizey with his practice-session husky team. In the Arctic each participant will have between 4 and 6 dogs pulling the sled

Paintball

The Red Army marches across the City of London

The first Westminster Challenge Paintball event took place on Saturday near Liverpool Street, in the City of London. Six teams took part, representing the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, Gorkana, Connect PA, journalists from The Times and Guardian newspapers, representative from Crimestoppers and The Children’s Society and a guest appearance by Westminster Challenge supporter, His Excellency Vygaudas Usackas, the Lithuanian Ambassador.

As a hail of bullets flew around the City, the Labour Party team (named the Red Army) took an early lead capturing the flags of other teams. They became unstoppable and topped the league table from the start until the bitter end.

As the defeated teams counted their bruises from the paintball explosions, the Red Army marched off victorious to the nearest pub to celebrate their victory.

The Children’s Society prepare to battle…

Connect Public Affairs’ “Ministry of Bruise”

RAF training

Emily Thornberry MP trains with Flt Sgt Ruddy Farquharson and Cpl Richard Dunning at Westminster Gym

Tobias Ellwood MP trains for the Arctic with Cpl Richard Dunning

“Who would have thought British Parliamentarians would embark on a 400 km long journey in the Artic with husky dog sleds. I salute the teams and the Westminster Artic Challenge for raising the awareness of human caused climate change and at the same time work for charities.”

Peter S. Gitmark MP (Norway)

On 22nd November, Sir Simon Milton, Head of the Westminster Council, hosted the Westminster Launch of Westminster Challenge in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Members of the Westminster Challenge Arctic charity team at the launch of Westminster Challenge at Westminster City Hall. Photo by Michael Walter/Troika

Westminster Challenge is committed to working with the environment. The Arctic Challenge team will witness the devastating effect that global warming is having during this expedition and investigate its impact firsthand. The team will see the damage that has been done to the beautiful but fragile environment of the Arctic as they develop a new understanding and gather vital information to allow them to champion environmental issues on their return.

The need to make the Arctic Challenge carbon neutral has been at the centre of Westminster Challenge’s planning process since preparations for the trip began. Each member of the team is absolutely dedicated to limiting the environmental impact of the expedition and that is why this trip will be carbon neutral.