Total blindness would have been nightmarish. My admiration for Miles is enormous and I wish him the very best of luck in Antarctica. Earlier this year, after completing a Scottish winter mountaineering course including seconding up to grade 3 technical ice climbs, they undertook an expedition to the Himalayas , climbing to over 17,500 feet in the Everest region. Miles' other achievements have included over 40 sport parachute jumps, Zambesi white water rafting, tandem cycling marathons, abseiling, hot air ballooning plus countless marathons. If I can show that trekking to the South Pole is possible for a blind man, then maybe I can inspire someone who's just lost their sight to pick up a white cane and, after appropiate training take that first step across the road into the future.
Life's a journey .
It can be exciting, scary, exhilarating and I want to live it - to the full. The South Pole presents a momentous challenge for any person. The fact that Miles is blind creates an extra dimension. My hands act as my eyes . I recognise objects by touch and the gloves will represent a further obstacle to me handling equipment, with frostbite an ever present risk.