Y.CO Prepare To Embark On Extreme Headnorth Challenge
The Y.CO team is preparing to embark on an extreme challenge for charity under
the banner of Headnorth. Commencing April 2015, this 100km trek will
take the team from Ice Camp Bameo to the Geographic North Pole, the
highest point on Planet Earth.
Co-founders Gary Wright and Charlie Birkett, along with
Director of Yacht Management Yves Damette, will be joined on the
Headnorth challenge by members of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning team,
Lewis Moody MBE. Danny Grewcock MBE and Josh Lewsey MBE. Three Royal
Marines will accompany the group, including expedition leader,
accomplished polar explorer Alan Chambers MBE FRGS.
Through Headnorth, the team is aiming to raise in excess of £250,000
to be divided between two charities that help those with head injuries
and brain tumours and another which provides support for military
personnel who have suffered in service: The Lewis Moody Foundation and
the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF).
The Lewis Moody Foundation raises funds to establish the UK’s first
BioBank for brain tumours, a scientific facility for biological data
that will improve the development of treatment and cures, supported by
The Brain Tumour Charity and Cancer Research UK. The Foundation also
helps families affected by serious illness, offering one-off experiences
for children and their families. The RMCTF provides a better quality of
life to serving and retired Royal Marines and their families, and helps
the wounded and injured, particularly as the most severely injured
begin their transition into civilian life.
This challenge also marks the launch of our partnership with the
GREAT Britain campaign, a UK government initiative that showcases the
best that Britain has to offer. Y.CO will join the ‘Adventure is GREAT’
element of the campaign. Y.CO is one of the only superyacht companies in
the GREAT Britain campaign, and will engage in promoting UK-registered
companies to the rest of the world, and, crucially, to emerging markets.
The idea for headnorth was inspired by the Y.CO team’s passion for
adventure, constant search for the ultimate challenge, and commitment to
corporate social responsibility. The team is also taking on Headnorth
to inspire the superyacht industry to focus more on charitable ventures
and to create an avenue for it to do so. In addition, Gary, Charlie and
Yves want to encourage the Y.CO team to take on extreme challenges, move
beyond their comfort zone and embrace adventure at every opportunity.
The trek traverses over 100km of shifting sea ice and is a huge
challenge for all involved. After acclimatisation in the relative
civilisation of Ice Camp Barneo, the team will trek for 10 days
northwards, to Latitude 90° North, a total distance of around 100km, 60
nautical miles. This journey is one of the most extreme tests of
physical and psychological endurance that humans can experience. The
group will battle over a constantly moving ice flow through an
unpredictable polar climate pulling sledges weighing 60kg. Temperatures
are between -25 and -50ºC depending on wind chill.
Charlie Birkett, Co-Founder and CEO of Y.CO, said: “CSR is very
important to Y.CO, and we always encourage our team to help those less
fortunate. By taking on the headnorth, challenge, we want to inspire the
industry to engage more in charitable ventures, and encourage our team
to embrace challenges and support those in desperate need. We are also
privileged to be part of the Great Britain campaign and look forward to
promoting Y.CO and other UK companies to the rest of the world.”
To support the team on their journey, click here to donate and make a difference to two more than worthy causes. We’ll be following Y.CO‘s expedition and will be providing updates as and when we can.