AGAINST ALL ODDS
LUCY SHEPHERD
Adventurer Lucy completed a 253-mile Amazon expedition on foot through one of the last remaining unexplored wildernesses on earth.The 29-year-old became the first person to trek east to west across the Kanukus, Guyana, starting at the Essequibo river and finishing on the border of Brazil.
Endorsed by the Scientific Exploration Society, it is thought to be one of the most remarkable jungle journeys undertaken in modern times. During the gruelling 50-day expedition Lucy and her team of four from the local Amerindian tribe encountered bushmaster snakes, were stalked by jaguars and chased by giant swarms of wasps.
The unforgiving Essequibo river also tried to defeat them when their raft capsized in strong rapids. Lucy, who lives in London, said: “It was brutal because what we were going through was so uncharted, the only maps we had were 50 years old – and they were unreliable.”
MARTIN HEWITT
Disabled military veteran and polar explorer Martin covered more than 400 miles on skis in 50 days and went on to scale Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, to become the first disabled person to reach the South Pole. Father-of-two Martin, 42, battled -50C temperatures and 40mph winds while pulling sleds on skis.The former captain with the Parachute Regiment lost the use of his arm after being shot in Afghanistan aged 26. He started to embark on expeditions as part of his rehabilitation.
In 2012 he set himself the challenge of climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents in what is called the Adaptive Grand Slam. Martin usually takes along a group of disabled adventurers but because of Covid only he and his guide Louis Rudd could make the trip. Martin, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is the founder of Adaptive Grand Slam, an accessible exploring charity which organises expeditions and challenge events.
VICTORIA EVANS
Sports lawyer Victoria, 35, set a record for the fastest female solo crossing of the Atlantic earlier this year.The oarswoman from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, rowed 2,559 nautical miles in a time of 40 days and 19 hours – beating the previous 49 days and seven hours set by fellow Briton Kiko Matthews.
The challenge took her from the island of Tenerife to Port St Charles in Barbados. Victoria said :“At one point my boat was tipped, and my kit moved in my aft cabin and locked me out.” Victoria founded Sea Change Sport as part of her mission to change engendered mindsets in the sports industry.
NICK BUTTER
Endurance runner Nick completed 200 marathons in 128 days to become the fastest human to run the entire coastline of Great Britain.
The route measured 5,255 miles and the run started and finished at the Eden Project, Cornwall. During the challenge, Nick, 33, from Dorset, sustained broken bones, torn achilles, pulled hamstrings and knee cartilage damage. He took more than 12 million steps, went through 14 pairs of trainers and spent 1,400 hours running with 1,560 support runners en route. Nick was raising funds and awareness for his own 196
Foundation charity which aims to provide aid “to every corner of the world”.