Arctic 250k Husky Challenge - Norway/Sweden/Lapland

Daryl takes the lead for Husky 250k Arctic challenge

48-year-old Daryl Seeley is no novice when it comes to dog handling he runs Harpenden based dog-walking and training company “TakeMyLead”. Daryl decided to use his occupation as the basis for a charity fundraiser and signed up for Meningitis Research Foundation’s 2010 Husky Trek.

On 10 – 17th April 2010, Daryl will travel to Lapland to spend a week in charge of a sled and team of huskies, covering 250km of arctic terrain from the city of Tromso to the world famous ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi. The challenge will push Darryl to his limits: he will face arctic temperatures down to -30, severe weather and must be self-sufficient for the whole week, carrying everything he needs to survive on his sled. He must also attend to his husky team, making sure his dogs are happy and healthy.

A life-long dog lover, Daryl has defied the credit crunch by making a success of “TakeMyLead”, a dog-walking company with a difference. Based on the premise that dogs are happiest when interacting with each other in packs, Daryl spends much of his time ‘pack walking’ his charges in the Harpenden/St Albans area of Hertfordshire. When he saw the Husky challenge and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take his canine experience to the next level. He’s invested in Nordic ‘Skiks’ (land skis to you or I) to practice his technique and is training hard for the trek.

Daryl is trekking to support national charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF). As a father and grandfather he realises the importance of supporting a charity which works to eradicate these devastating diseases.

MRF works around the country to fight death and disability from meningitis and septicaemia – the blood poisoning form of the disease. There are nine cases of meningitis in the UK every week resulting in six deaths and leaving survivors with after-effects which can be as severe as brain damage, deafness and amputations. MRF is fighting back – half their expenditure is on scientific research and in their 20 years as a charity they’ve spent almost £16million on research into prevention, detection and treatment of the diseases. MRF also raises awareness of the symptoms of meningitis through a freephone helpline, website and free symptoms awareness literature, and provides support for those affected by the diseases through a telephone befriending programme.

Daryl will be blogging on his experiences at www.takemylead.biz If you are able and would like to support him you can find a link to his online fundraising page please see: http://www.justgiving.com/TakeMyLead/. MRF has a few places left on the Husky Trek. If you fancy taking up the challenge of a lifetime whilst supporting a worthy cause, visit www.meningitis.org