5 female firefighters skiing to the South Pole to show what women are capable of and inspire women & girls to achieve their ambitions.
The Expedition
The ‘Antarctic Fire Angels’ are a team of 5 female firefighters based out of London, South Wales and Derbyshire. In November 2023 we will be embarking on an Antarctic expedition; covering 1,130km in temperatures as low as -50°c, with up to 60mph winds.
The expedition itself; from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, will take us approximately 45 days to complete. We will be unguided and unassisted by dogs or kites; purely using muscle power to pull 85kg+ supply sleds with everything we will need to survive the journey.
The Aims
We want to challenge the gender stereotypes that are placed upon us all. Stereotyping is something we all see every day; it’s the reason behind the stigma attached to a man being a midwife, and it’s the reason women aren't aware of their capabilities. We want to prove what women are capable of and eradicate gender stereotypes that can stop young women from entering male dominated industries, and vice versa. We aim to do this by being the women we all needed when we were growing up - the ones who challenge the stereotype and carve a path for incredible women to fulfil their true potential. #YouCantBeWhatYouCantSee after all.
We will also be raising vital funds for The Firefighters Charity who support the whole Fire Service community and provide both physical and mental recovery to firefighters and their families.
The Team
As a team we are mostly novices with a small amount of experience between us. We are a group of women who come in all different shapes and sizes; we have a range of characters and come from a variety of different backgrounds in life. We represent a broad spectrum of ordinary women, and we are passionate about proving that ordinary women can do extraordinary things. Please meet the team;
George is Founder of the Angels and Team Leader. She has been a firefighter for 24 years, and is an ambassador for gender equality. George has also recently been nominated for ‘Most Influential LGBT individual in the Fire Service’ by Excellence in Fire and Emergency. George loves nature and has climbed Kilimanjaro & Mt Elbrus in Russia.
Bex has rowed for GB, represented Wales in the Rugby World Cup & Six Nations, and has broken World Records and won World Championships in ‘surf life saving‘. At the age of 37 she became a firefighter, fulfilling a lifelong ambition after leaving her previous job as a PE teacher. Changing her career at this stage was a huge risk but her guts and determination to persevere means it has been the best decision she ever could have made.
Nikki became a firefighter in 2009 and she is also a qualified Level 3 personal trainer and spinning instructor. She recently travelled to Tajikistan to teach rope rescue to women wanting to become the first female rescue responders. Nikki was so inspired and in awe of their determination she hopes to return soon.
Becky was in the British Army for 6 years before becoming a firefighter for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2019. She is a keen outdoor enthusiast and remains a Reservist in the Army, where she has gained many skills including leadership courses that have given her the capabilities of running training events in the UK and Germany.
Emily became a firefighter in 2011 at the age of 20, after an arson attack on her family farm left her wanting to help others in the way firefighters helped her. She is a qualified rope rescue technician and travelled to Tajikistan alongside Nikki to deliver her knowledge and expertise to the women of Tajikistan and Afghanistan; Emily notes this as an incredibly humbling experience.
This project closed unsuccessfully on 25th November 2022