On top of the world

Oliver Westbury, a Pompey fan, became the first deaf person to reach the North Pole last month, and even celebrated by donning his club's colours.

Oliver, who was born profoundly deaf, was part of a team of five hearing and deaf people who covered 70 miles of the most hostile wilderness on earth to reach the North Pole, and worked together to overcome communication barriers.

The gruelling record-breaking expedition saw the team complete a surface crossing of the Arctic Ocean, crossing 'The Last Degree", from 89 degrees north to the Geographic North Pole at 90 degrees north. The team travelled on skis, across drifting sea ice whilst towing 40kg of equipment and supplies.

Each member of the expedition team raised £27,000 for the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), the national charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.

Oliver's expedition to the top of the world is just the latest of his fundraising efforts. They include running the Berlin Marathon, the Stockholm Marathon, the Paris Marathon and the London Triathlon - all in the last year..

He has taken part in seven marathons since 2005 and achieved his personal best time of 3 hours 3 minutes at the Berlin Marathon in September 2007. He ran the Rome Marathon on 16th March and will take part in the Half Iron Man competition in June.

On completing his epic journey, Oliver said, "We’re really excited to have reached the North Pole, and to be the first deaf people to do it! We had a hair-raising journey as there was a very strong westerly drift. The wind was blowing as fast as we could walk so we were concerned that if we didn't make it that day, we wouldn't make it at all! We celebrated in our tents with hot drinks and I wore my Pompey shirt! By trekking to the North Pole I think we’ve proved what deaf people can achieve, and show that it is possible to overcome any barriers they might face."

Helen Lerwill, NDCS Head of Events, was delighted with Oliver and his team's efforts.

"Being the first deaf people to reach the North Pole is a great achievement! We’d like to congratulate the team for working together to overcome any communication barriers and for raising so much money for deaf children in the UK," she said.

"Every day in the UK three babies are born deaf and 90% are born to hearing parents with little experience of deafness. NDCS is funded almost entirely through public donations so none of our work would be possible without the commitment of individuals like the North Pole expedition team."

To read more about the NDCS North Pole Expedition visit www.ndcschallenges.org.uk/northpole