Do you get excited by the thought of:
- Cycling long distances in far off lands?
- Kayaking remote, unexplored waters on first sight?
Getting lost inExploring Kazakhstan?- Paragliding over Russia?
- Hanging out with nomads in Mongolia?
- Kite-buggying across the Gobi Desert?
- Sweet-talking your way through border checkpoints in China?
- Paddling and wild camping along the coast of Alaska?
- Traveling the length of the USA via the Mississippi and Missouri?
- Exploring Central America?
- Conquering The Darien Gap?
- Forging paths through rain-forests?
- Sitting at the southernmost tip of South america?
Are you capable of:
- Holding an International Driving License?
- Basic vehicle maintenance and servicing knowledge?
- Being available to commit to the expedition for three months?
- Reading a topographical map? (Properly and accurately)
- Living in ‘Field Conditions’ for weeks at a time?
- Expedition First-Aid and best-practices in general?
- Laughing when cold and wet and tired, for the second week in a row?
- Making me laugh when I’m cold and wet and tired, for the second year in a row?
- Being responsible for the success or failure of my life’s dream?
Then let’s talk about you joining the 30,000 MILES team!
The 30,000 MILES AROUND THE WORLD IN A WHEELCHAIR expedition is an amazing opportunity to see the world and be part of something truly ground breaking. The mission is for a paraplegic to complete an epic journey around the world using only adventure sports to conquer the distance and many geographical obstacles along the way.
It’s designed to vividly demonstrate the possibilities for adventure and exploration available to everyone no matter their situation and will help raise funds to provide vital equipment to disabled people around the world. The expedition route encounters almost every geographical environment and climate on the planet, often far removed from any outside support with large sections in remote wilderness where it’s impossible to foresee every eventuality. This requires a vehicle based support team to accompany me for the entire journey. Primarily to carry the different adaptive equipment I’ll use to replace my legs in different situations so that it’s quickly available to cross obstacles as they appear; wheelchairs, handcycles, kayaks, kite-buggies, paragliding equipment, climbing equipment etc.
The primary mission of team members is to help maintain the daily logistics of the expedition ‘on-the-ground’ by driving the support vehicle, rendezvousing at waypoints, providing route reconnaissance, procuring supplies and other vital support functions. Although support is the primary mission, team members will be very much part of the expedition itself and not confined to the vehicle! Bring your kayak, bike or paraglider and join me on the trails whenever possible.
Due to the increased costs incurred by use of a support vehicle (30,000+ miles worth of fuel, insurance, maintenance etc.) and the increased food budget needed for a support team, places for team members are limited. I have planned for a maximum of two team members (not including myself) on the expedition at any one time, although as some people may only be able to join for a month there are many opportunities throughout the expected duration of 24 months. Expedition costs (not including personal expenditures such as travel to join/leave the expedition, insurance, visas etc) for team members should be negligible.
Interested? Get in touch!
If you’re interested in coming along on this amazing adventure then use the contact form below (add ‘JOIN THE TEAM’ to the subject line) to get in touch and add your name to the list for more detailed information. I’ll keep you up to date with the planning developments and send you an information pack for potential team members with details of the timelines and different geographical stages available for applications as soon as a definite start date is set (at the moment the preliminary start date is the early March 2012).
LIVE ALONG THE EXPEDITION ROUTE AND WANT TO BE INVOLVED?
GUIDES/HOSTS/INTERPRETERS: If you live in one of the countries along the expedition route and think you could help then please get in touch! Especially if you can act as a local guide in Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Central and Southern America. Even if you can’t join the expedition itself, your local knowledge, advice and help with languages could be vital.
SCHOOLS: Education forms a large part of the reasons for the expedition and I will be partnering with a number of schools throughout Britain to bring geography and social science lessons alive with updates from schools in each country along the route. If you’re a teacher and would like to be involved get in touch!
DISABILITY RESOURCES: I am partnering with the charity Motivation who work to provide basic equipment for disabled people in countries around the world and set up guidance and education programs to help integrate people with disabilities into their communities. If you’re involved in a disability initiative along the route, are a disabled person or know of a disabled person who needs help then please let me know so I can try to use the expedition to highlight the needs, and successes of disabled people in your country.
FUNDRAISING: The whole reason for the expedition is to raise funds that will help disabled people enjoy a fulfilling life of active participation in the outdoors, but in many cases it will have the basic goal of allowing them to live by rescuing them from abandonment and neglect in hospital wards. If you can help with fundraising and sponsorship at any stage along the route then please get in touch to share ideas.