The 2012 The Nationwide Relay  - how it works 

Commencing in late August 2012 we intend to cover the entire country with a joined up sledge pull relay, starting at John O' Groats and ending at Land's End. 

It is our plan to link up participating schools, youth groups, companies, organisations and individuals all over the country into an unprecedented and unique collaborative fundraising event that will reach into every county of the UK. 

The principal aim will be to raise funds to create adventure training and exploration opportunities for young people all over the UK, and for polar education. We will focus on creating opportunity, particularly in areas where it does not normally exist. 

The build up to, and activity of the sledge pull has numerous educational and skills development aspects, for example polar history, polar science, team building, project management and fund-raising. 

The fundraising is intended to be a long term team project for the students,  that may be used to complete Duke of Edinburgh or V50, for example, and will add several valuable skills and experience to their CV. 

In practical terms
  
We will use minor roads, cycle paths and other tracks at every opportunity. In July and August 2011 we made a reconnaissance of the entire country, seeking out suitable routes and checking our plans with regional authorities and road safety agencies. These proved safe and workable. The diagrams below show how the convoy will appear on the road.  

We have manufactured small wheeled sledges that can be easily pulled by one person. They can carry sponsor logos and school crests etc, and attract attention wherever they go. 

The sledge can be pulled by one person for a considerable distance, or by several in relay each undertaking a relatively short distance of, for example, 1 mile. Ideally each organisation or individual will take on at least 10 miles of the route. 
  

Teams may be made up of students, teachers, celebrities, alumni, parents, friends, or from a company. Each team member will be asked to fund raise, aiming to raise £100.
Teams of explorers, some famous and very well known, as well as expeditioners, volunteers and company teams will help us to complete the route by running legs. 

 

Sign up dates and commitment 
 
We had 66 teams and individuals committed to the 2011 event. You can see a selection of these from 'The Teams' button opposite. The vast majority of these have transferred their enthusiasm to the event in 2012.  

 
To make the event completely viable we need to have assembled teams to complete the entire route registered by 29th March 2012. Payment will be required at this stage. 

This date is highly significant  to the Scott Story, as it is the exact anniversary of his famous last diary entry.