Swindon polar racer looks for sponsors

Norman and Linda Butler and their daughter Melissa

Until Norman Butler from Westlea entered a race to the magnetic North Pole next April, he had never been north of Leeds. But then two years ago he had never rowed a boat on the high sea.

However, having rowed to the Caribbean in Autumn 2001, the adventure of the ice race was a challenge he could not turn down.

Up to 12 teams of two or three members will ski across the ice, pulling sleds loaded with supplies. High winds and temperatures of minus 40sC, the risk of the ice cracking and plunging into freezing water and the ever present danger of inquisitive polar bears are some of the highlights to look forward to.



"Rowing the Atlantic showed what an ordinary person can do if he or she sets out to do something; to push out the boundaries of capability," said Norman.

He is calling on many of the professionals who prepared him for his row and this time Halcrow Engineering at Wroughton are already on board with sponsorship. To get to the start line Norman has to raise £20,000 in sponsorship for race entry and equipment.

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Click here for pictures and the story of Norman's Atlantic row.