A mother and businesswoman that works in Banbury at the headquarters of invoice finance company Bibby Financial Services set out on the biggest challenge of her life this week – trekking to the South Pole.
Having spent the last few months training for the undertaking, including lugging tyres around a local village green in preparation for carrying her equipment, 43-year-old Julie Ashmore, UK operations director at Bibby Financial Services, is aiming to arrive at the South Pole on January 17 - marking 100 years since the death of intrepid polar explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
Julie is taking on the challenge with a group of other explorers who are all being led by adventurer and business owner Neil Laughton. If she completes the trek she will be one of about 300 people who have ever reached the South Pole over land.
Mother to Elizabeth, aged seven, and Michael, aged six, Julie is completing the challenge to raise money for Fairbridge, a charity which works with inner city youths to gain the confidence and motivation to change their lives.
She says: “The training, including 24 hours in an industrial freezer and a couple of great weekends in Scotland, has gone very well, as has the fundraising, which has included quiz evenings, race nights and even penguin naming.
“I would like to thank my colleagues, friends and family for their support and encouragement, as well as some bewilderment and concern over my sanity, and I am very much looking forward to this challenge while raising much needed funds for an extremely worthwhile cause.”
For updates on Julie’s adventure follower her on Twitter @julieeashmore
Posted on 23 January 2012