Vascular Surgeons To Attempt Famous Shackleton Route

Follow John and the team's journey on shipmate Rosie Thomas' blog here

On October 4th 2011, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, John Wolfe and a group of seven friends (average age 64-years-old), including two other vascular surgeons, will be sailing across the Southern Ocean from The Falklands to South Georgia and will then be dragging sledges and skiing across South Georgia (the Shackleton Route) to raise funds for the Circulation Foundation.

Unlike Shackleton, they will be in a boat with modern equipment but they hope, nevertheless, to retrace the steps of that epic journey.  South Georgia remains relatively unexplored with many unclimbed peaks.  Its remoteness and harsh weather conditions will probably ensure it remains relatively unexplored for some years to come. It is not a land for the faint-hearted or ill-prepared. 

As vascular surgeons, the crew knows firsthand the dangers of vascular disease.  It can affect any part of your body; one of the most common conditions is Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD. This condition mainly affects the legs and causes pain when walking as blockages in your arteries affect blood supply to your muscles. Sadly this condition is hugely undiagnosed and, if left untreated, can lead to a heart attack or stroke in around 75% of cases. 

If you would like to support John and his team on this epic journey, you can do so here.