Antarctica challenge is an inspiring tale at lunch
MORE than 100 people attended the West Midlands Institute of Directors’ Women as Leaders annual lunch – and watched a presentation about the first all-female team to ski coastto-coast across Antarctica using solely muscle power.
Expedition Ice Maiden member Major Sandy Hennis shared her experiences with the audience at Birmingham’s Opus Restaurant. She was joined by Sergeant Victoria McIndewar and Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Emmerson, who also trained for the expedition.
Maj Hennis, a Reservist officer with 37 Signal Regiment based in Redditch, was chosen from 250 candidates for the gruelling challenge which saw the team pulling sleds of more than their own body weights on a 1,704km trek.
The expedition began in midDecember and finished on January 20 and Maj Hennis told how the women faced 100km strong winds, temperatures of minus 56 degrees centigrade and the risk of frostbite.
Maj Hennis, of Cannock, shared the lows which included the trek being delayed 15 days because of bad weather and her succumbing to what she termed ‘ man flu’ for a few days. And she also shared the highs which included the group reaching the South Pole and achieving their ambition to cross the world’s wildest continent.
Admitting to a fear of falling, she told the audience how training included stepping over the side of crevasses held just by rope – and how she conquered her fear.
“What got me through was not wanting to let the team down,” she said. “It’s amazing how much we can push our minds when we have to.”
Maj Hennis insisted the team were ‘just normal women’ and urged the audience to follow their own dreams.
“My message would be not to let anything hold you back if there is something you have always wanted to achieve,” she said. “We all have personal challenges which we put off and put off but now is your chance to do it.”
The 100-strong audience is the largest for the annual dinner which and our bodies is now in its third year and was sponsored by Investec.
Women as Leaders committee member Jackie Casey said: “The talk demonstrates that we, as women, have incredible potential and it’s often our own thoughts and fears which hold us back. Having heard Major Hennis speak, it would be difficult not to be inspired in both your business life and your personal life.”
For more information on the Women as Leaders events, see www.iod.com/westmids