An avid fundraiser will cross the Arctic in an attempt to inspire his younger brother after he was left paralysed in a car accident.
James McCorkindale will take on two weeks of gruelling conditions across the most northerly settlement in the world next May in aid of Spinal Research - a pioneering charity aiming to reverse paralysis as a result of spinal and neck injuries.
The charity is a cause close to his heart after his younger brother, Jonathan, was told he would never walk again at the age of 22 after being involved in a serious car accident near Broughton.
James, who lives in Chester, is hopeful his brother will walk again one day and is determined to raise as much money as possible for the charity.
He said he is hoping the challenge will inspire his younger brother to ‘make the most of the situation’.
“It was a terrible thing to happen to somebody so young,” he said.
“He found it really difficult to deal with to begin, but he has come to terms with it now.
“People’s lives change overnight with a spinal injury, it had an affect on the whole family.
“It feels like it would take a miracle to see my brother walk again, but never say never.
“I want this challenge to inspire him to set himself a personal challenge, even a charity challenge, one day. He has it in him to make the most of his current situation.”
James, a personal trainer at Chester’s Old Hall Country Club, will be assisted by two Alaskan Huskies and will be required to pull a sled weighing 50lbs over 20 miles a day as part of the challenge.
The 36-year-old who is originally from Mold will enter polar bear territory and face lethal weather conditions across Norway’s white glacial terrain in temperatures below -20 degrees.
“I want to use this as a stepping stone to the ultimate challenge of reaching the North Pole for charity and to raise as much money as possible in the process,” he added.
“I’ve decided to challenge my endurance and my fear of walking over hidden bottomless crevasses in below freezing temperatures of the Arctic. There are so many hidden dangers which I am worried about.
“I’m confident about the endurance side of things but I am absolutely petrified of polar bears!
“Sir Ranulph Fiennes, a very famous adventurer, held a talk in Chester last week about his polar expeditions and he told us how he had to cut his own finger off after getting a frost bite.
“My goal is to be as good as an adventurer as he is and it would be a dream to raise half of what he’s raised for charity.”
However, this won’t be the first challenge James has taken on.
In June earlier this year, James climbed Snowdon three times in 12 hours on Father’s Day in memory of his dad who suffered the worst form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for more than 20 years.
He climbed 27 miles wearing a back pack of essentials weighing more than 20kg.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/James-McCorkindalesArcticChallenge
