Intrepid identical twins will trek 340 miles across an inhospitable polar ice cap as they attempt to raise £305,000 for Spinal Research.
Hugo and Ross Turner will brave temperatures as low as -35 degrees, in some of the most treacherous conditions imaginable, as they journey across Greenland’s desolate terrain.
Their expedition is set to begin on May 1, but the date will be moved forward if the weather is too dangerous.
The swashbuckling twins, 25, will encounter crevasses, gigantic glaciers, and could even come face to face with polar bears.
Ross said: "If we come across a polar bear it will be a scary moment. We do have a rifle with us but that is purely to scare them away.
"We are aware of the dangers and have been taught how to avoid them. But if one of us gets frostbite that will be very, very bad."
The pair, from Wandsworth Town, will sleep in tents and live off corned beef and baked beans.
They will also eat pure blocks of lard to help them keep warm, and snack on beef jerky as a treat.
The brothers have been training by lugging 35kg tyres around Wandsworth and Clapham Common.
In Greenland the Turner's will be using cross-country ski's to make their way across the snow. They will also have to drag their tent, spare clothes, and food supplies behind them.
Ross said: "We will be pulling around 75kg of weight every day, so it not's going to be easy.
"But me and my brother really want to do this for the charity, because a few years ago they were amazing to us."
When he was 17 Hugo narrowly missed being paralysed after diving into a sandbank at a Cornwall beach.
The accident meant he had to have six months of corrective neck surgery.
Spinal Research supported Hugo and Ross's family by helping them find the best treatment available.
The charity also funds medical research that seeks to find a cure for paralysis.
The idea for their adventure was inspired by the legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton, who famously trekked across the Antarctic in 1901, 1908 and 1914.
The brothers initially wanted to follow in his foot prints, but settled on Greenland because it was a cheaper option.
Ross said: "We haven’t decided who yet, but one of us will wear 19th century polar gear just like Shackleton.
"He will also use wooden skis like the ones that would have been used 100 years ago."
The Greenland trek has won the support of Sir Kenneth Branagh, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Bear Grylls.
Sir Kenneth, who played Shackleton in a Channel 4 documentary, said: "I’ll eat my hat if people don’t get inspired and back the Turner Twins on their Greenland trek."
Since they started collecting donations on March 4, they have raised nearly £2,500.
Hugo and Ross expect their challenge to take around 25 days, and will be leaving voicemail messages on their website for people to follow their progress.
To make a donation visit: https://kriticalmass.com/p/turnertwins
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