With an overall budget of £1.4m and a two year logistical master plan, Victoria is hugely proud to have managed the largest Walking With The Wounded expedition to date – The South Pole Allied Challenge 2013. This was the largest ever modern day ski expedition to the South Pole.
The planning for this high profile challenge included: over 200 applications from service personnel around the world, a stringent selection and training programme throughout the UK, Canada, Australia and USA, the final selection of twelve wounded service personnel (all novices to polar conditions and terrain) living across four continents, three international polar guides based in varying global locations, one Royal Prince, a royal protection team, a film crew of four, an expedition Doctor, two globally recognised film personalities, 2.5 tonnes of equipment and food, a vehicle support crew of four pimped Arctic Hilux trucks and highly experienced drivers, training trips in the US, Australia, Norway, and two to Iceland before leaving for Antarctica, the flights, accommodation and management throughout the two years of planning for the expedition team of 32 and leading the liaison with more than 50 kit and equipment partners/sponsors.
On Friday 13th December at 12.48pm, all twelve wounded team members skied onto the South Pole together, illustrating the extraordinary courage and determination with which our wounded face their injuries and life outside of the military.
Walking With The Wounded undertakes challenging expeditions to extreme locations to both champion and raise awareness of our wounded, demonstrating that despite life changing injury, they can achieve at the highest level and succeed at challenges which others consider impossible.
All Walking With The Wounded expeditions are funded by its very generous sponsors, ensuring that none of the money donated to the charity pays for these challenges. All donations go directly to the work which the charity does – securing long term employment for our wounded when they are no longer able to continue in their desired careers within the military due to the injuries which they have sustained whilst serving for our country.
She expertly organized travel and schedules for members all over the world, dealing with multiple time zones and personal agendas, ‘Queen Vicks’, as we affectionately named her, did it with ease.
Chris Downey