An intrepid Lanarkshire grandad has raised up to £50,000 braving Arctic conditions and scaling some of the world’s highest mountains - and he has done it all for the love of his daughter.
Brian Thomson, 58, has spent the last decade trekking the globe seeking out thrilling adventures in an effort to raise awareness and donations for Diabetes UK.
Inspired by his student daughter Hayley, 22, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was six years old, thrillseeker Brian paired his love of travel and adventure with grit and determination to raise as much money as possible to fund research into the autoimmune disease.
His remarkable list of accomplishments over the years include climbing Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, reaching Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, trekking the Great Wall of China and completing a 10,000 foot skydive.
The Hamilton carer’s most recent trip took him to the Arctic Circle where he camped in freezing conditions for the incredible Arctic Husky Challenge.
Sledding 240km over six nights with temperatures dropping to a chilling minus 33 degrees, this once-in-a-lifetime experience even included a surprise show of the spectacular Northern Lights.
Describing his “amazing” Arctic experience to Lanarkshire Live, Brian said: “I’ve tried to do this particular challenge for a few years as there are limited spaces and it sells out pretty quick but I managed to get on it and it was just everything you could imagine.
“The first two nights were spent at the husky lodge where the dogs are all kept which has all mod cons, then we swapped to a yurt on the second night.
“During the day we helped prepare the food for the dogs and muck out the dog pens, it was really hands-on. I enjoyed getting involved in everything.
“Then we headed out sledding out over frozen lakes - it was an absolutely amazing experience. The dogs looked fierce at first but are so loving and friendly and our guides were brilliant.
“We moved out to the river cabins on days three and four which had no electricity. We cooked sliced Reindeer which was like a big roll of black pudding, chopped firewood, collected water and fed the dogs before sledding further out into the Arctic Circle to camp for two nights in freezing conditions ranging from minus 25 to minus 33.
“Believe it or not I didn’t feel it under the bear skin pelts over the tents but my boots were frozen at the ankles every morning.”
During the exhilarating experience Brian was lucky enough to witness the Northern Lights for not one but two nights - an incredible moment he says he’ll never forget.
“We actually saw the Aurora Borealis at camp on the first night which lit up our tent", he added. "It was unbelievable to see that.
“There’s nothing there on the ice lakes, it’s just snow and vastness, you’re in complete wilderness. I didn’t see any other animals but spotted wolverine and reindeer footprints.
“It’s just amazing to be out in the middle of nowhere. It was some experience.”
Brian marvelled at the Northern Lights for a second time while rounding off the “perfect” trip in Sweden's famous Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, where he and his fellow explorers enjoyed a meal and a few celebratory drinks.
Brian’s fundraising journey began in 2010 when he signed up to conquer Ben Nevis for Kidney Research UK after speaking to a campaigner in Hamilton town centre.
The following year he put his name down for the charity’s Great Wall of China trek and, in subsequent years, went on to do the West Highland Way and Mount Kilimanjaro.
But after the dad-of-three’s youngest daughter Hayley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes he decided to focus on fundraising for Diabetes UK in her name through more gruelling annual challenges.
That saw him complete the National Three Peaks Challenge climbing England, Scotland and Wales’ highest mountains in 24 hours and trek the Grand Canyon, Peru’s Machu Picchu, Mount Everest Base Camp and take the plunge in adrenaline-pumping skydives.
On top of this, Brian’s family hold their own charity event each year ‘Hike for Hayley’ taking in the likes of Ben Lomond and The Cobbler which helps fundraise for the larger events.
“It’s just something I’ve kind of fallen into and I’m lucky that the same people support me year after year” said Brian.
“I try to get people to sign up and do them with me through social media. We’ve raised around £6000 so far from the Arctic Husky Challenge and nearly £50,000 for the two charities in total over the years.”
For his next challenge, Brian is eyeing up Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia or Costa Rica’s Coast to Coast Challenge this time in aid of Glasgow Children’s Hospital who are caring for his one-year-old grandson Lyle who was born with a heart defect.
He added: “They say travel broadens the horizons and there’s no truer phrase. You get the bug to experience different cultures but I would never have been able to do these things without the fundraising so I’m very grateful for that.”
You can make a donation to the cause here.
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