Helen's Polar Challenge
Fearless Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton made it to the South Pole in just 18 days by ski, bike and kite, bringing her epic, 500-mile Antarctic expedition to a triumphant close.
For this gruelling challenge, Helen travelled up to 14 hours a day across the coldest and windiest place on earth, battling blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. If you're inspired by Helen, you too can go the extra mile by doing the Sport Relief Mile on Sunday 25th March.
High and Lows
Helen set a new Guiness World Record for the Fastest 100km by kite ski. Speedy Skelton soared to the halfway point in just seven days. Along the way she suffered from severe dehydration, excruciating blisters and way too many boil-in-the-bag meals.
The icy cold, hard facts
Average South Pole temperature: -48°C
Number of miles Helen covered: 500 miles
Weight of sledge Helen dragged: 82KG
Helen made it to the the South Pole.
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When Helen met Issa
On a recent trip to Sierra Leone, Helen met a 12-year-old boy, Issa, who didn’t have access to clean water near his home. Tragically, he’d lost three members of his family to cholera from drinking dirty water. Issa had to get up at 4am every day and walk for hours to get clean water, meaning he’d often miss out on school. This was having a huge impact on his education and future plans.
But thanks to money raised through Sport Relief, Issa, and countless others just like him, can look forward to a much brighter future. Sport Relief cash is helping to provide access to clean, safe water in areas that need it.
By getting sponsored to do the Sport Relief Mile, you can help change lives.
About Helen
In the three years she’s been a Blue Peter presenter, daredevil Helen Skelton has taken on some truly epic challenges.
She was the first person to solo kayak the length of the Amazon for Sport Relief in 2010 and then she completed a dramatic high-wire walk across Battersea Power Station for Red Nose Day in 2011.
And Helen has now completed her toughest, most physically demanding feat yet.
Route Map
Find out more about Helen’s Polar Challenge on the Blue Peter website
Start: 83° South, Finish: South Pole, Distance: 500 miles