More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
An assistant pub manager will switch pulling pints for potentially life-threatening conditions when he embarks on a month alone in the Arctic with minimal supplies.
Frank Synek, who works at The Beer Seller in Tonbridge, is to travel to Norway in January and hopes his extreme challenge will raise thousands of pounds to fight Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.
During the expedition, Frank, who lives in Tonbridge, will have to build his own shelter and find his own food.
He is taking only two day’s worth of emergency rations, and faces temperatures which could be as low as -40 deg C.
It is so dangerous, that a charity he had supported in the past, Meningitis Now, declined his offer to use the trip as a fundraiser for it. A spokesman said: “We admire his passion and ambition, but we had genuine concerns over his personal safety with this particular challenge. This is of paramount importance to us and, as such, we’ve agreed with him that we would step back from this one.”
Frank, 32, admitted: “I am definitely nervous. I think a lot of people don’t realise or think I don’t appreciate what can and might happen and my answer is I am fully aware there could be some very dangerous things that happen.
"I could potentially not come back but that’s the risk I am willing to take. I am keen to see what the unknown brings.”
After doing a survival course in Bodø, Frank will venture north, into bear and wolf territory. The adventurer, who trekked from Land’s Ends to John O’Groats in 33 days without spending any money on food or drink in 2017, said: “I am an optimist. If something has a 1% chance of success I am doing it. I am doing what I can to prepare for this challenge. I am going in hoping for the best. I could get lost, I could fall into some ice, I might just run out of food.”
Frank was inspired to raise money for Reverse Rett after meeting a little girl, Elsie Buckley, three, pictured, whose parents Neil and Kate go to The Beer Seller. Elsie has Rett Syndrome, which affects brain development, resulting in severe mental and physical disability.
He said: “Elsie has got such a beautiful face and smile. I didn’t know what Rett Syndrome was and I was really alarmed to find out hardly anybody else does and it’s a really horrible thing to happen. I want to do what I can for her and all other Rett sufferers as well.”
To support Frank, go to tinyurl.com/Articchallenge
