Walking with the wounded
After preparing several months for a race to the South Pole with the UK-based charity Walking With The Wounded, Prince Harry and the three teams competing alongside of him will no longer be racing to the finish line.
According to Ed Parker, expedition director of the Virgin Money South Pole Allied Challenge and co-founder of Walking With The Wounded, the competition aspect of the trek was putting unnecessary strain on the participants.
"The reason for this is entirely simple — safety, which remains the core principal of our expeditions," Parker revealed in a statement. "It was becoming evident that there was a higher degree of stress imposed on the team members, due to unprecedented terrain on the plateau."
The teams will continue the 200 mile trek, but in a recreational state instead of a competition. The UK, US, and Commonwealth teams have already spent five days traversing Antarctica and only have about 70 more miles to go until they reach the end mark.
Parker, who expects them to finish the trek on Friday or Saturday of next week, anticipates a great deal of “celebrating” when it’s all said and done.
Walking With The Wounded raises money to help physically and mentally wounded military members find employment if their injuries prevent them from returning to the armed forces.
When announcing his participation in the race, Prince Harry said, “These men and women have given their all in the cause of freedom, in our cause. That they should once again step into the breach – this time facing down the extreme physical and mental challenges of trekking to the South Pole – just underlines their remarkable qualities."
