Message from Tyler Fish and John Huston, Victorinox North Pole ’09 Expedition Team  www.northpole09.com

Please join us in our aim to raise at least $15,000 for CaringBridge via our historic Victorinox North Pole ’09 Expedition. Your donation will move us several more steps closer to our fundraising goal.

We are proud that we are able to use our expedition to raise awareness and funds for CaringBridge.  We believe that with compassionate support and an optimistic mindset all people have a limitless power to push beyond their perceived limits and reach their goals.

While skiing to the North Pole our minds often wandered to the positive people in our lives and those who have been an inspiration in pursuit of our dreams.  Although we were only  two people skiing together on the ice, we knew that thousands more would be pulling for us every step of the way. This knowledge gave us an immeasurably positive boost as we encountered challenges along the way, and we are extremely grateful for your support. Thank you for joining our Expedition Team.

It was amazing to plant the CaringBridge flag at the North Pole in April 2009!

Tyler Fish and John Huston, Victorinox North Pole '09 Expedition Team

www.northpole09.com

Background Information

Forward Expeditions LLC, Ely, Minn, embarked on a historic North Pole expedition to raise at least $15,000 and awareness for CaringBridge.  The North Pole ‘09 expedition team of John Huston and Tyler Fish became the first Americans to ski unsupported to the North Pole. Huston, age 32 of Chicago, Ill., and Fish, age 34 of Ely, Minn., departed from the northern tip of Canada’s Ellesmere Island in early March 2009 and trekked 475 miles over the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole.  In addition to raising awareness and funds for CaringBridge, Huston and Fish are hopeful that their unique approach to taking on physical and mental challenges inspired the families using and supporting CaringBridge.

Enduring the North Pole

The expedition did not receive or use any outside assistance such as airdrops, re–supplies or sled dogs. Instead, Huston and Fish each carried 30-pound packs and pulled 260–pound sleds (called “pulks”) full of gear, food, cooking fuel and navigational equipment as they negotiated the maze of ice ridges, drifts and open water that stood between them and the Pole.

Embracing Extreme Challenges

Huston and Fish are hopeful that this expedition will inspire others to embrace extreme challenges with a similar mindset. As they began preparing for their expedition in early 2008, they heard about the work of CaringBridge and felt an immediate connection. According to Fish, they were inspired by the work of CaringBridge and the medical challenges faced by its Web site users.

“The extremely rugged terrain and bitter cold of the Arctic Ocean make this particular expedition very dangerous and intimidating, and if you lose your focus you can easily become overwhelmed,” says Huston. “We believe that by approaching this challenge with optimism, humility and responsible action, we can be successful and safely reach the Pole.” — John Huston

“We thought about all of the people with CaringBridge Web sites and the health challenges they were facing, and we wondered if we could help,” says Fish. “What if we could use our expedition to raise awareness and funds for CaringBridge, and make our expedition story available to the thousands of families that use its Web sites every day? Not only would this relationship give our expedition a broader purpose, but just knowing that so many people are supporting us might also help us persevere when the going gets tough.” — Tyler Fish

Read blog entries, see photos and more at the official expedition website www.NorthPole09.com