Across The Andes: Beyond Boundaries
The expedition team start in Quito and catch their first site of the
Andes in all their awe-inspiring splendour as they are flown in a
military transport plane to the edge of the Amazon rainforest.
From their landing strip it takes another 3 hours of driving and then
river boat journey before they reach their jungle campsite and the
start point for the expedition proper. Over the following 24 days the
expedition winds its way through the steamy, claustrophobic
environments of rainforest and cloud forest, where the team must get
used to all manner of wildlife, stifling humidity and torrential rain.
Once clear of the cloudforest new challenges await as the team
must come to terms with trekking at altitude, where altitude sickness
is a very real concern, and the temperatures can drop below zero. All
this on top of a vertical ascent of nearly 2 kilometres.
The prizes, views of snow-capped volcanoes, and a snow-ball fight on
the slopes of Volcano Cotopaxi are immense, but the effort required to
achieve these goals will push all the team members to their limits. And
once they descend the other side of the mountains they still face the
challenge of muscle-sapping mud and the heat of a burning equatorial
sun before they can reach their end goal of the Pacific.
The expedition will ask questions of all members of the team, will
force them to confront their own fears and limitations and it will
demand they re-evaluate themselves and their perceptions of themselves
and others. None of them will complete the expedition unchanged.
SALES ENQUIRIES:
Zodiak International
Phone.: +44 (0)20 8600 3780
Fax: +44 (0)20 8600 3789
Email: info@zodiakinternational.com
Visiting address: Second Floor, 21 Warple Way
Postcode: London W3 0RX
Country: United Kingdom
www.zodiakinternational.com
Press:
Wheelchair users to climb summit
She has conquered the Andes. Next stop Ben Nevis. Julie McElroy, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, is taking part in a challenge to help push 10 wheelchair users up Britain's highest peak.
The 22-year-old, from Glasgow, is no stranger to adventure having already completed a gruelling four-week trek across the Andes.
She was one of 10 young people selected for the expedition led by ex-SAS commando Ken Hames.
Julie, who has been shortlisted for this year's Young Scot awards, has walking difficulties, speech and hearing impairment and manual dexterity problems.
She hopes her ability to overcome her disabilities would inspire others to take on Ben Nevis in May.
She said: "I have challenged my disabilities. This has made me physically and mentally stronger and will enable me to overcome more barriers.
"In the Ben Nevis challenge, Ken and I and our supporters want to encourage disabled and able-bodied people of all ages to work together and succeed."
The challenge is set for 10 teams made up of corporate employees to help wheelchair users climb the Scottish summit.
The event is designed to raise funds and awareness for the charities Capability Scotland and Scope.
Julie has already begun her training regime and has started a blog to provide updates on her progress.
"It's pretty hard work," she said.
"It's quite hard going when you're walking so I need to build my stamina and muscles up."
The Ben Nevis Challenge is due to take place on 31 May.
Julie is to feature in the TV series Beyond Boundaries: Across the Andes which will be broadcast on BBC2 later this year [2008].
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7271464.stm
Awards:
RADAR People of The Year Human Rights Award
Nominated: Media Factual
2008
A Diverse Bristol Ltd. Production
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