Katie Walter
Hi, my name is Katie Walter. I live on a family farm with my Mum, Dad, and older brother Sam, just outside Retford in Nottinghamshire. I am a pupil at Worksop College.I am very sporty and my favourite sport is hockey. I was in the 2nd girls hockey team and also play netball and tennis for my school. I gained a Music Exhibition at Worksop College. I play the Flute, Piano and sing, all at a high level.
The South Pole Expedition is a chance to raise awareness and money for the charities I feel strongly about. I have chosen Notts Air Ambulance because as I live on a farm the only way I can get to hospital if I was to be injured is by Air Ambulance. Notts Air Ambulance is run by Charity money only and is not funded by the government so the money I raise would go to a very good cause.
The other charity I am raising money for is Dyslexia Action. This charity is one I feel very strongly about as I am dyslexic.
This expedition is about proving that young people can do amazing things.
I am very excited about the next couple of years as we will find out more about ourselves, we will find our strengths and weaknesses but more of all what a young person can do when they but their mind to it.
ME
For further details please contact me on katie@southpole2009.co.uk
Fiona Thornewill MBE
Fiona Thornewill has offered to be my patron for this expedition. She was the first woman British woman to ski to the North and South pole. She and her husband Mike were the first couple to ski to the North and South pole together.
Sponsorship
Before I can raise money for my two charities I have to raise approximately £30,000 for the actual expedition, this includes all training, specialist equipment and clothing. If you would like to know more about sponsorship opportunities please contact me at katie@southpole2009.co.uk
*****UPDATE!!*****
March 08 Hi, i thought i would let you all know how I am doing so far. Well, I have raised £13,200 and am doing well.
September 08 - I have now raised Just over £16,000 so am well on the way. Training is going well, I am now pulling two landrover tyres around the lanes which is hard work, am also playing a lot of hockey and netball as well as running when I get time.
January 2009 - Hi everyone and a Happy New Year, things are still going well, I have now raised just over £24,000 so a big thank you to all my sponsors. I am still training hard and am going to Norway in February for five days for some Arctic Training. I am also studying hard as I have my mock GCSE's at the beginning of January so the majority of my efforts will be going into this over the next few weeks. I have a facebook group set up called 'katie to southpole 2009' if you would like to sign on. Will be in touch again after I get back from Norway, hopefully with some great photos.
February 2009 Just go back from Norway, had a fantastic time, we stayed at Finse.
It was my first experience of the cold and although it was not as cold as the Antarctic it was a good opportunity to test all my equipment.
April 2009 Fund raising still going well, I now have just over £26,000 which is great but am still in need of another £8,000 so if anyone has any ideas please let me know. We are having another dance in June (see separate page) if it is as good as last year it wiill be great. Probably wont update now until the end of June as my GCSE's are due to start in next couple of weeks and all my spare time will be spent revising.
July 2009 - Finally finished all GCSE's (now just have to wait for results) Had fantastic Barn Disco again in June and raised just over £1,100 which was great. Thank you to everyone who came, I hope they all enjoyed themselves. Fund raising has slowed a bit and I am still about £4,000 behing what I need (it varies day to day as have to pay in dollars). My training is still going well, have just signed up for a 11k run in September so that gives me something to aim for. Am also still pulling my tyre or should I say tyres as have now increased it to two!!!! I think that the time is now going to go very quickly, My aim before I go back to school in September is to finalise all my kit so that will be one less thing to think about.
Everything is now booked so there is now turning back. We have paid ALE the deposit which is non refundable and also all accommodation in Chile has been confirmed. We are flying out of Heathrow on the evening of Thursday 10th December and should get to Chile a couple of days later. Hopefully all going well we should be back to Heathrow on 8th January.
September 2009 - Well, after an extremely busy summer either working, training or fund raising I am now back at school and in Lower sixth, fortunately I got the exam results I needed and am studying Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Design Technology for A level, it seems really strange not wearing school uniform.
It is now just over 13 weeks until we go and I am sure that it will go very quickly, I had my fitness test with Mike in July which went well thank goodness and I have kept up my fitness during the summer running and cycling so have come back to school fitter than I have ever been which will be good for the hockey season.
I now have the majority of my kit, just the odd pair of gloves and socks to get which I hope to get during half term in October, I am also going up to Edinburgh in October to see Baillie Gifford (my main sponsors) to meet some of the people there, I have already met Michelle Campbell when I sent to London in August but it will be nice to meet the others.
January 2010
Well I'm back and I have had a fantastic time. As you can see from my diary updates that mum did whilst I was away, We managed to get to the South Pole three days early and arrived on New Years day which was amazing.
I am now back at school and working towards my AS levels in the summer, I am taking Design Technology, physics and chemistry as well as taking maths A level as I am hoping to take Further maths next year.
If anyone has any questions please contact me on katie@southpole2009.co.uk
Talk soon
Many thanks
katie
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