Special forces’ TV star Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox and fellow military veteran Sean Johnson are to take on a unique challenge for charity – thanks to sponsorship from a leading cyber-security business.
C3IA Solutions, based in Poole, Dorset, has got behind the daring duo who hope to raise more than £100,000 for three military charities.
The super-fit former Royal Marines will complete a 49 mile hike over Alaskan mountains before an arm-aching 1,980 mile kayak along the Yukon River to the Bering Sea.
It is the so-called ‘poor man’s route’ from the time of the 19th century gold rush when penniless prospectors travelled along it in search of their fortunes.
Sean, from Poole, and Foxy from London, whose hit TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins is back on our screens, will attempt to complete the ‘Into the Wild 2019’ challenge in eight weeks.
They will be raising money for the Royal Marines Charity, Rock 2 Recovery – which supports those in the military suffering from stress – and the SBS Association.
The pair have both set world records for feats of endurance and on this challenge they will face a gruelling schedule as well as risk of attack from bears.
Foxy, 41, said: “These charities are very important to us and do so much good work we wanted to raise a large sum.
“The challenge is daunting and would not be possible without the sponsorship from C3IA Solutions.
“Their support will pay for our travel costs and food, which will enable more money to go to the charities.
“The challenge begins in Skagway in Alaska at the start of the Chikroot Trail and once we have yomped over the mountains we begin the kayak.
“We enter Canada and paddle more than 500 miles before returning to Alaska and kayaking right to the Bering Sea.
“There is a risk from bears so we will not sleep where we eat in case the food attracts them. We will be unsupported and will carry our own rations.
“We are obviously looking for people to donate and there are sponsorship packages remaining.”
Matt Horan from C3IA Solutions said: “Coming from military backgrounds, myself and fellow founder of the business Keith Parsons understand the importance of these charities.
“Since we launched the company we have supported numerous challenges like this and will continue to do so.
“What Foxy and Sean are attempting is probably unique and combines a yomp over mountains followed by a massive kayak.
“Both are highly experienced and we’d love the great British public to get behind them.”
Sean, 51, a security consultant, said: “We will do a lot of intensive training and will research in great detail the route, terrain and what we can expect.
“Preparation is really important but motivation is simple because we want to raise money for really important causes.”