Rob's race to the North Pole

The 39-year-old is set to brave the freezing conditions of the North Pole for the challenge of his lifetime.

Rob will be teaming up with his pals Matt and Caroline Baugh to take part in the Polar Race 2005, due to be held in April next year.

Working in Sudan, North East Africa, for five months as a humanitarian advisor for the Department for International Development, he has been searching for an event which would enable him to raise cash for Medicins Sans Frontieres, who provide emergency aid in more than 80 countries

And in the name of charity the polar race will see him hauling his own food and equipment on a sledge over 400 miles of some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world.

The journey will take 'Team Darfur' from Resolute Bay in the former North West territories of Canada to the Magnetic North Pole.

The race is expected to take 30 days during which competitors will fend for themselves in temperatures that can plummet below -40C.

The team are currently participating in a rigorous training programme that will see them fully prepared for all eventualities including the real threat of being attacked by polar bears.

Rob, formerly of Edgeside, Waterfoot, who now lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire, said he is looking forward to the challenge of testing his physical, mental and emotional ability in one of the last true wildernesses of the world.

The former All Saints High School pupil, whose parents Roy and Betty Holden live in Crabtree Avenue, Waterfoot, said: "We are being trained in how to deal with polar bears. The race has a 100 per cent safety record and we intend to make sure it stays that way.

"We are determined to do well in the race and raise as much money as possible for the charity as well as helping to raise awareness."

Rob is looking for corporate sponsorship for the trip. Anyone who would like to help can contact him on 07899 877848 or 01628 628464 or email holdenrob@hotmail.com.