Swans go 65 Degrees North

Swansea City is honoured to help officially launch the '65 Degrees North' world record challenge at Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium.
Raising money for help for Heroes, '65 Degrees North' is the world's first unsupported crossing of the Greenland ice cap by an amputee, namely Peter Bowker.
Peter was injured while on army patrol in Afghanistan by an IED (road side bomb) and lost his lower right leg. Having been discharged from the Army in 2012, he has since used his time to help others. His focus is to inspire those around him to never look back and display courage and humility in the challenges that lie ahead.
Now Peter - who in 2013 achieved a new British record with Heroes Challenge UK (HCUK) by covering 1,283 miles of the UK by land, sea and air - will join a six-strong team later this year to cover the near 600km crossing of the ice cap from Kangerlussuaq in the west to Kulusuk in the east.
The team, sponsored by the 'All Wales Truck and Transport Show', will be conducting the unsupported crossing on skis and pulling pulks weighing up to 300lbs with food, clothing and survival equipment.
Collectively they will battle against the distance and fatigue, temperatures as low as -37°c and the resident polar bears!
The world record attempt, which is estimated to take between 24 and 30 days, will pit their resolve and steadfast determination as they rely on fitness and mental grit to overcome the fearsome environment.
The gruelling challenge is so impressive that it has also received Royal Foundation backing through the prestigious Endeavour Fund which was established in 2012 by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
It exists to support the ambitions of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans wishing to use sport or adventurous challenge to promote recovery and inspire others.
Harry Holt, Chairman of The Endeavour Fund, said: "We are proud to support 65 Degrees North and applaud the example being set by Peter Bowker in this amazing feat of endurance."
To help launch the event, The Royal Marines Commandos will be abseiling from the top of the North Stand before kick-off with the matchball to present to Peter Bowker and Forces mascot Oisian Rhys Downey.
Members of the Commandos will also lead out the teams and there will be a bucket collection before kick-off by members of the 65DN team and the Royal Marines Association Swansea.

You can donate £5 towards Help for Heroes and back the 65 Degrees North challenge by texting 65DN to 70900. (You will be charged £5 plus your standard network rate.) Mobile Text Telephone helpline - 01494 750 500.

You can find out more about 65 Degree North at:
www.65degreesnorth.co.uk
Twitter: @65degnorth
Facebook: 65degreesnorth



Peter Bowker
Peter was 15 years old and still in school when he successfully applied to join the British Army and the Queens Dragoon Guards.
His ambition and leadership was recognised early and he became the youngest non-commissioned officer at his unit and was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the age of 21, Peter was injured while on patrol in Afghanistan by an IED (road side bomb), and sustained devastating life changing injuries, multiple complex fractures to his right foot, ankle, heel and a fractured femur in seven places, resulting in his femur being shortened by 7cm and the need for complex and pioneering surgery following the amputation of his lower right leg.
Peter saw first-hand the incredible work of the medics who treated him immediately after and during his recovery process, which has fuelled and driven his desire to help others lead fulfilling lives.
He dealt with the emotion of losing his leg and faced the prospect of leaving a job he loved with dignity and set himself new goals.
In 2012 the reality set in, Peter was discharged from the Army and has since used his time to help others. His focus is to inspire those around him to never look back and display courage and humility in the challenges that lie ahead.
In 2013, Peter achieved a new British record with The Heroes Challenge UK - which the Swans helped to launch last season against Liverpool at the Liberty - worked with the Prince's Trust and become a PADI diving instructor.