Brit Aims For Youngest Pole Record

A 24-year-old Briton is planning to become the youngest ever person to walk unsupported and solo to the North Geographic Pole.

Ben Saunders is aiming to complete the unsupported trek in under 60 days and, in keeping with our information-wired culture, has set up an all-singing, all-dancing but rather slow web site where you'll be able to follow his progress, access a daily diary and keep abreast of weather conditions in the arctic.

Ben will be hauling a sledge weighing over 120kg across ice of the frozen arctic ocean for a distance of over 500 miles with danger from shifting ice and polar bears. He has a pretty good idea of what he's up against having attempted the expedition with a friend earlier this year

As part of his preparation, Ben will be putting on as much weight as possible - Raging Bull style - between now and the start of the expedition in February, going from his normal 80 kilos to around 90 kilos on departure. By the end of the trip he expects to be down to around 70 kilos... As well as some serious eating, Ben's training for between two and eight hours per day.

He's also aiming to rasie funds for the Orchid Cancer Appeal which funds research into testicular cancer.