Phil Gillam: Shrewsbury's polar star and marathon men
Very often in this blog I’ll write about Shrewsbury’s beautiful buildings, its lovely streets and alleyways, its fascinating history, the embrace of the River Severn as it loops around the town centre.
I’ve always been interested in what’s become known as “the power of place” – the way in which our surroundings can shape our thoughts, emotions and actions.
But this week, it’s not Shrewsbury’s geography or architecture that’s grabbed my attention.
Another vital element that makes our town so great is its people.
So this week I’d like to turn the Shrewsbury Matters spotlight on just a few of Shrewsbury’s exceptional individuals who are pulling out all the stops to help make the world a better place.
Meanwhile, two Shrewsbury businessmen, Nick Jones and Steve Oliver, are among those getting into shape to take on the London Marathon.
Julia will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support in Shropshire while Nick and Steve are looking to give a boost to the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.
Julia’s date with one of the coldest places on earth will see the 35-year-old ski, trudge and drag her gear in a sledge for seven to 10 hours a day to reach the geographic North Pole in April of next year.
The popular chocolatier said: “April is the only one-month window when you can go there. I’m not the most active-looking person but I love walking and believe that we shouldn’t be stopped by any boundaries.”
Wow! Good for you, Julia.
Home to magnificent polar bears, the warmest temperature that the North Pole ever reaches is – you’ve guessed it – freezing point.
Regime
During the winter, temperatures can plummet to minus 40, cold enough to freeze a bottle of whisky.
But of course for generations, the idea of reaching the North Pole has been a huge attraction for the intrepid.
Julia, it seems, is one such person.
She has an intense training regime ahead of her which includes walking and cross-country ski-ing while dragging a heavy tyre (which represents her sledge).
“I have to do survival training in advance, learning what to do if I fall in water, how to climb out if I fall, and polar bear training. Maybe it’ll be to run, dig a hole or to hide behind the sledge.”
When she isn’t conjuring up delicious sweets and chocolates – and when she isn’t in training for the North Pole – Julia is a trainee teacher.
You’d think she’d enough quite enough on her plate without contemplating such a trek.
But she believes the reasons behind her challenge will power her through.
In 2007 she lost her mother Katrina to breast cancer, and Julia’s husband, Federico, 44, has had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma three times. “So I’m trying to raise money for Macmillan in Shropshire,” said Julia.
Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NorthPole to help.
The aforementioned Nick Jones and Steve Oliver, meanwhile, are colleagues at Nick Jones Wealth Planning on Shrewsbury Business Park, and the pair are facing a rather different challenge to Julia's – this time with very little chance of meeting a polar bear.
Nick and Steve, as I say, are in training for the London Marathon.
Steve, 46, of Coleham, Shrewsbury, is a member of Shropshire Shufflers, regularly taking part in the Park Run held in The Quarry each Saturday, as well as completing around 50 kilometres of road work each week in serious and structured training.
Nick, however, is taking a slightly more laid back approach, doing his training through a 16-week internet-based scheme.
Having completed the same marathon 10 years ago, 47-year-old Nick, of Telford Way, Shrewsbury, hopes to beat his previous time of five hours and 41 minutes.
Well, the best of luck to Julia and to Nick and Steve, and to all those involved in charity fundraising challenges this year.
