The youngster of the team! John was educated at King's College and Harrow School where he enjoyed History, Mathematics and Sport , but not necessarily in that order ! This slightly unconventional mix led him down several paths of higher education and the military before he began work in the City of London in the early 1990s. John now works for Goldman Sachs International on Fleet Street.
In 2003 he married Lara and in 2008 their son Alec was born. After numerous long term injuries through his 20s, John has been re-invigorated in recent years to complete the Caledonian Challenge, The Trailwalker Race, The Three Peaks in 24 hours and, in 2007, The Marathon des Sables. Having experienced the +50 C temperatures of the Sahara desert in competition he is now attempting to complete the trek to the North pole in -50 C . There must be a good title for a book in there.
John has known David and Iain for well over a decade and is fortunate to count them as friends.
Iain spent ten years in the Army, serving with The King's Own Scottish Borderers. Threatened with a year at Staff College, Iain left, and has been trapped behind a desk in the city attempting to make his way as a stockbroker ever since. He is married with three children, Kitty, Angus and Rory. His wife Jane seems remarkably sanguine about the prospect of him being away for five weeks! Many worry about whether he can last this long without a curry, but time is being spent in the lab, working on the perfect spice mix.
Why the Polar Race?The Army left me with a sense of adventure, and desk life has sharpened my love of the outdoors, so I have always been a keen climber, walker and take part in most outdoor pursuits. The Polar Race appeared to be a huge and interesting challenge, there are few opportunities to experience such an awe-inspiring environment at such close hand. I also thought that it would be an opportunity to test my mother's adage that 'there's no such thing as cold, you just put another sweater on'. Iain has kept his fitness up by running, including taking part in the New York Marathon, for which he claims the BMI and age adjusted world record! At the moment he is spending more time concentrating on the 'fattening up' phase of training.....
Why Combat Stress?Having served in the Army, I have some insight into the mental problems some ex-servicemen and women have. It is easy to understand the physical implications of service. Mental trauma is something that cannot be predicted. Unlike the immediate, effects of physical injury, many do not know the scars they bear for some time, and there is no specific state provision for post-traumatic stress disorder. Individual help, as provided by Combat Stress, can help whole families. I am also the Treasurer of Gardening Leave, a complementary charity which treats severe cases. http://www.gardeningleave.org/index.htm
Born in Melbourne, Australia, David, like most of his young contemporaries, grew up playing a variety of sports during the winter and summer months. In 1998 he married into a family with a rich Antarctic tradition. Most notably his father-in-law was a member of the “lost eleven” who were marooned in the Antarctic between 1948 and 1950.
After moving to the UK in 1997 he met John MacPherson and Iain Whiteley who convinced him that marathons and long bike rides needed to be replaced by a real challenge ….. The 2009 Polar Race.
David is married to Kate, who along with their three children (Mia, Peter and Charlotte) is convinced that the race is merely cover for a 6 week golf trip with the boys. David is hoping to raise money for Down’s South.
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