First Disabled Person to Solo the South Pole

I’m Jonny Huntington, and I’m undertaking a world-first South Pole expedition, attempting to become the first disabled person to reach the South Pole solo.

In December 2024, I will ski more than 900 kilometres unsupported through Antarctica in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees celsius.

Only 51 people in history have travelled solo to the South Pole, but I’ll attempt it having survived a brain bleed which caused left-sided paralysis from the neck down.

With all eyes monitoring the forecasts, the expedition itself will begin, weather-dependent, at the Fuchs-Messner start on the Ronne Ice Shelf and over the following 40 days I’ll ski around 911 kilometres, consuming more than 6,100 kcal per day until reaching my final destination of the South Pole.

Why attempt the South Pole?

My expedition will attempt to be a powerful catalyst for conversation surrounding neurodiversity – a collection of conditions thought to affect 15-20% of the global population.

Neurodiverse conditions are the least represented disabilities because they are harder to visually communicate – I hope my story will help break down these barriers.

First and foremost, I’m an athlete. My injury hasn’t changed this. It may cause me to rethink my approach, but intrinsically the challenge is the same – with the right attitude and hard work, anything is achievable.

It’s always been really important to me to perform to the best of my ability, and helping others fulfil their potential is a real passion of mine. Since getting injured, I’ve gone from thinking that I just wouldn’t be able to perform to a high level again at all, to being able to consider doing things that really push the boundaries.

While serving as an Officer in the British Army in 2014, I suffered a brain bleed that left me with permanent brain damage. I am now attempting to do something that no one with a disability has done before, to go from the continental shelf of Antarctica to the South pole, solo and unsupported. It will be one of the biggest challenges of my life.

Initially the brain bleed saw me with paralysis on my left side that required two-and-a-half years of intensive rehabilitation. Following my initial rehab, I spent the last decade intensively training and working to manage neurological damage that has left me with limited control down my left side.

I’ve previously undertaken endurance challenges including kayaking Land’s End to John O’Groats and running the UK’s South West Coast Path. 

In preparation for the South Pole expedition, I am following a carefully constructed timeline to build up to the right level and type of training to enable a successful attempt.

Among the event highlights, I have already run from Manchester to London in 11 days visiting schools, charities and sponsor organisations to deliver presentations along the way.

I’ve also undertaken on-snow training in Sweden, becoming at ease with the expedition fundamentals, including dragging pulks (Nordic sleds), perfecting the tent routine and getting comfortable and competent spending long periods on snow, and including a 20-day unsupported Antarctica simulation on a remote Swedish trail high in the mountains, where I encountered challenging conditions, technical terrain and genuine feelings of remote isolation. The perfect proving ground for later in the year.

The journey doesn't end when I reach the South Pole because the following 12 months will be spent on post-expedition presentations and talks to schools, universities, charities and sponsor organisations. 

Using my own example, now enhanced through the Antarctic adventure, the core theme will remain empowering youth to have greater self-belief in order to lead more fulfilled lives. 

If you would like to help me make a difference, break down barriers and show disability doesn’t mean impossible then please donate:

For those able to donate £250 or more, please find details below of specific reward packages available for your kind sponsorship.