Friday, 02 January 2015 10:44
Financial Planner's South Pole success 'phenomenal'
The supporters of a Financial Planner who embarked on an epic challenge to walk to the South Pole have hailed his "phenomenal accomplishment".
IFP corporate member firm Aegon sponsored Patrick McIntosh, 58, who managed to complete his trek on Saturday.
The three times cancer survivor finished the journey on January 17 - the 103rd anniversary of Captain Scott arriving there.
Dougy Grant, protection director at Aegon said: "We'd like to congratulate Patrick on this phenomenal accomplishment.
"Patrick's achievement will go a long way in raising awareness of protection and early detection of cancer but will also inspire those facing a similar health battle to focus on their recovery and stay positive.
"The protection team at Aegon was really proud to lend its support to Patrick."
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Despite suffering breathing problems, sickness and battling the freezing conditions, Mr McIntosh said he only doubted he would make it to his goal on the second day.
He praised his guide Conrad for ensuring he was able to make it through.
He said: "As we walked into South Pole camp I said to Conrad: this is extraordinary, to have spent 11 days at -30°C, completing a marathon a day and dragging a sledge, and then to arrive here mentally and physically absolutely in peak of condition, is incredible.
"I mean I don't feel tired, I don't feel mentally exhausted. It's just amazing and I think its a combination of Conrad's perfect planning, perfect guiding, perfect organisation of the food and just general discipline and management of routine every day which has worked extremely well.
"I don't feel as if I've done anything for the last 11 days and yet I know I've been through the most unbelievable ordeal.
"Conrad reckons only about 24 people have actually walked the last two degrees, and about a further 200 people have walked from the coast to the Pole, so I'm in a very small group of humanity anyway."
Mr McIntosh, a director at KMG, wanted to raise awareness and money for three charities - Bowel Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK, and The Voice of the Listener and Viewer. Mr McIntosh has overcome three types of cancer since 2012 and through the adventure, he hopes to raise £220,000 for charities helping sufferers. So far he has amassed over £60,000.
He was most looking forward to drinking green tea, eating fresh fruit and finally having a shower on returning home.
At the last time of positing via his blog or social media, he had still not been able to fly out of the Arctic and back home due to weather conditions.
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/PatrickSouthPole/
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Follow us on Twitter and get frequent news alerts @FPM_online.
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IFP corporate member firm Aegon sponsored Patrick McIntosh, 58, who managed to complete his trek on Saturday.
The three times cancer survivor finished the journey on January 17 - the 103rd anniversary of Captain Scott arriving there.
Dougy Grant, protection director at Aegon said: "We'd like to congratulate Patrick on this phenomenal accomplishment.
"Patrick's achievement will go a long way in raising awareness of protection and early detection of cancer but will also inspire those facing a similar health battle to focus on their recovery and stay positive.
"The protection team at Aegon was really proud to lend its support to Patrick."
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Despite suffering breathing problems, sickness and battling the freezing conditions, Mr McIntosh said he only doubted he would make it to his goal on the second day.
He praised his guide Conrad for ensuring he was able to make it through.
He said: "As we walked into South Pole camp I said to Conrad: this is extraordinary, to have spent 11 days at -30°C, completing a marathon a day and dragging a sledge, and then to arrive here mentally and physically absolutely in peak of condition, is incredible.
"I mean I don't feel tired, I don't feel mentally exhausted. It's just amazing and I think its a combination of Conrad's perfect planning, perfect guiding, perfect organisation of the food and just general discipline and management of routine every day which has worked extremely well.
"I don't feel as if I've done anything for the last 11 days and yet I know I've been through the most unbelievable ordeal.
"Conrad reckons only about 24 people have actually walked the last two degrees, and about a further 200 people have walked from the coast to the Pole, so I'm in a very small group of humanity anyway."
Mr McIntosh, a director at KMG, wanted to raise awareness and money for three charities - Bowel Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK, and The Voice of the Listener and Viewer. Mr McIntosh has overcome three types of cancer since 2012 and through the adventure, he hopes to raise £220,000 for charities helping sufferers. So far he has amassed over £60,000.
He was most looking forward to drinking green tea, eating fresh fruit and finally having a shower on returning home.
At the last time of positing via his blog or social media, he had still not been able to fly out of the Arctic and back home due to weather conditions.
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/PatrickSouthPole/
Get FREE daily news summaries direct to your inbox. Sign up on the homepage now.
Follow us on Twitter and get frequent news alerts @FPM_online.
Or follow Editor Kevin O'Donnell - @FPM_Kevin or staff writer James Nadal - @FPM_James.
For the latest Sipp, SSAS and retirement news visit our sister news site www.sippsprofessional.co.uk and on Twitter @SippsPro.
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