“The Royal Marines family is truly remarkable. Dave and Alan are testament to the strength of the Corps, its values and standards and wider message of belonging,” said General Gwyn Jenkins, Commandant General Royal Marines, Vice Chief of Defence Staff and President RMA – The Royal Marines Charity who, alongside Corps Regimental Sergeant Major – Warrant Officer 1st Class, Nick Ollive RM, hosted the indomitable Alan Chambers and Dave Thomas at a congratulatory breakfast in London yesterday.
Both had kept in regular contact with the Mission Spiritus Antarctica duo throughout their epic record-breaking 1,150 sled haul/trek to the geographic South Pole as part of a private message group for friends, colleagues and family.
As many of you likely know, Al and Dave safely reached the Pole, exhausted but elated, on Friday 19th January having been on the polar ice for 60 days battling some of the most extreme conditions on earth.
With a combined age of a just under century and a quarter, on arrival at the Pole, the two former Royal Marines celebrated Dave’s new world record. At the age of 68 years and one month, he became the oldest person to ski to the South Pole from the coast at Hercules Inlet, beating the previous record by an impressive four years!
It was an especially poignant moment for Alan, too, as it marked the end of his 30 years in the polar environment. A member of the prestigious New York Explorers Club, he has over this time travelled the entirety of Greenland from Canada to the North Pole 16 times; to the South Pole three times, and has helped to raise £15-million for charity. During this expedition alone, the duo has to date raised over £10,500 (inc Gift Aid) for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. If you would like to give their fundraising a final boost, you can still donate here.
Their magnificent achievement marks an auspicious fundraising start to the 360th Birthday year of the Royal Marines. Utterly awesome and massive thanks.
