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

“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)

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.

If you wish to donate to the Westminster Arctic Challenge 2007, you can donate online at: www.justgiving.com/westminsterchallenge2007

The Westminster Arctic Challenge 2007

In February 2007, a cross-party team of Members of Parliament travelled across the Arctic wilderness by husky dog sled. The team travelled through Finland, Sweden and Norway to raise money for Crimestoppers, The Children’s Society and Cancer Research UK. The MP team includes Ed Vaizey (Con), Tobias Ellwood (Con), Nick Clegg (LD), Jenny Willott (LD) and Emily Thornberry (Lab).

It is the aim of The Westminster Challenge to arrange an expedition every two years and hope to include, on average, two challenges during each Parliament with a new team of MPs participating in each challenge. The trip will be carbon neutral, please click here for more information.

Below is a day by day account of what challenges the MPs will face over the course of the trek.

The will be expected to care for their team of huskies, fish for their supper and build igloos for shelter, all whilst enduring one of Europe’s harshest climates, where tempeartures can reach as low as -40 C.

Morning flight from London to Kittila via Helsinki. Arrive late afternoon and 2 hour transfer by minibus to our first taste of basic lodges at Katkasuvanto on the Finland / Sweden border.
Simple dormitory lodging, beds or mattresses on the floor; long drop toilets.

The route for today follows wide hard-packed trails west across fairly flat terrain, with a landscape of trees, frozen rivers and lakes. The exposed landscape for the rest of the day is a challenge, however it is still fairly flat and the pace is steady. The day ends in the town of Ovre Soppero with promise of a very special evening, as tonight we will be eating dinner in the home of a local Sami family. This will be an informal evening and gives us the chance to talk with the locals and find out more about the way of life in the Arctic.

Today the team will learn an essential wilderness skill: igloo building. It takes approximately 6 hours to build and although the team were warned not to underestimate this part of the challenge, everyone found it to be tougher than they anticipated.

They spent the night sleeping in the igloo, whilst outside temperature plummeted to below -30 C.

The overnight facilities included an Igloo or turf kåta; long drop toilets.

Feed and water the dogs, have breakfast, tidy the cabin – it’s a routine we will get to know very well. Once the sleds are packed it’s off once again for another beautiful trail.

Järämä – Råstojaure fishing camp
This was the team’s longest and most challenging day as they sled to Råstojaure, a fishing camp located in mountain and tundra terrain approximately half way above the tree line. After arriving at their overnight resting point in the Råstojaure fishing camp for a well earned rest.

The team learned the technique of ice fishing, with Emily Thornberry succesfully catching a substantial supper.

Thanks to the late night reporting of The Guardian’s Tania Branigan, Tania, Emily Thornberry and Jenny Willott witnessed the most spectacular display by the Nothern Lights.

Distance: approx 75-90km (7-11 hours) depending on weather conditions

Råstojaure to Kilpisjärvi
The first two hours will be picking up from yesterday – more fabulous scenery and hilly terrain. The trail becomes easier for the last 20km. This evening the group will prepare and enjoy a tasty evening meal before heading into the town of Kilpisjärvi.
Distance : approx 50 km (5-7 hours)

Kilpisjärvi – Tri Nation Meeting Point – Kilpisjärvi
Return trip with the dogs to the meeting point of Finland, Norway and Sweden where we cross our third border. Transfer approx 270km from Kilpisjärvi to Jukkasjärvi.

Transfer 15km to Kiruna airport for an early afternoon flight back to the UK via Stockholm.