TRUE STORIES
POLE POSITION Mission Antarctic Meet Jonny Huntington, the Cambridgeshire native pursuing his dream of becoming the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole
WORDS BY PHOEBE HARPER
“I want anyone who has heard my story or attended one of my talks to come away with the sense of confidence that they really can achieve more than what they previously thought possible.” For Jonny Huntington, the desire to motivate and inspire confidence in others is a key factor in his decision to solo ski the South Pole unsupported. As if this ambitious feat alone wasn’t enough, Jonny will become the first disabled person in history to do so if his upcoming mission in November 2024 is successful. A self-confessed ‘polar nerd’ and former GB para-athlete, Jonny grew up in Cambridge before he was eventually seduced by the more challenging terrain of the Devonshire coastline – where he now lives. The new locale provides ample training grounds for his endeavours as an ultra-marathon runner. Initially pursuing a career in the British Army, Jonny commissioned through the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 2014. But it was just eight weeks later, at the age of 28, that life took an unexpected turn when he suffered a haemorrhagic stroke which left him entirely paralysed down the left side of his body. Two-and-a-half gruelling years of rehabilitation ensued within the military, which Jonny gives credit for his almost miraculous recovery. “After my injury, the standard of care was exceptional in getting
SOLDIERING ON Determined and undeterred, Jonny has shown resilience to prepare for his feat of chilly endurance
me back on my feet – both literally and figuratively,” he shares. Although the road to recovery meant confronting the difficult reality of being medically discharged from the army with a disability – as opposed to the career in special forces he had originally envisaged – Jonny was introduced to several charities during this time. These included the Invictus Games Foundation, Team Forces, the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST) and the Adaptive Grand Slam (AGS) – the last two specialising in rehabilitating athletes through snow sports. With the right support, the idea of sport re-entered the realm of possibility, and his sights soon widened to the outdoor expeditionary space. Fast-forward to today and the prospect of traversing 911km of Antarctic tundra to the South Pole – over approximately 40 days in -35° temperatures – is a goal that feels achievable. “Pre- or post-injury, I’ve always pushed myself to be as good as I feel I can be. Although the extreme cold offers complications for a host of disabilities, it doesn’t increase the risk factors to a point where they become unacceptable.” PLANNED CONFIDENCE In the run-up to his Antarctic endeavours, Jonny’s confidence is rooted in practicality
and preparedness. Before the mission commences in November 2024, he faces ski-testing in the US and four months of survival training in polar Sweden. Recently, Jonny completed a preparatory 11-day ultra-marathon between Manchester and London, which included several stops along the way in order to speak at schools and charities. As a regular public speaker, Jonny promotes a message of resilience, pragmatism and hopefulness to eliminate all doubt. “It’s incredibly important to foster an appropriate level of self-confidence, particularly for students – many of whom can be falsely characterised by society as suffering from self-doubt and anxiety,” he explains. These lessons in positive self image apply to educational settings – even the world of business – as much as they do to polar exploration. “It’s one thing to have a dream, but it’s something else to be able to go about achieving it in a realistic and practical manner. If I do my job properly, it should all go fairly smoothly.” Follow Jonny’s efforts on Instagram at @jonnyhuntington and show your support for him at justgiving.com/page/jonny- huntington-m2l
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JANUARY 2024 53
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