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Pair embark on South Pole expedition for Sheffield motor neurone disease institute

10 November 2008

Two intrepid men will embark on a 55 day skiing expedition across some of the most hostile landscapes on the planet in a bid to raise funds for a groundbreaking Sheffield centre dedicated to fighting Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The brave duo, Doug Oppenheim and Jeremy Rogers, will begin the challenge of a lifetime on 15 November, having already raised £600,000 for the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, based at the University of Sheffield.

The expedition will see the 32 year-olds ski from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole - a two month journey during which they will travel 1,000 kilometres through one of the most challenging terrains on earth.

Jeremy, who has taken time off from his job at investment bank JP Morgan to complete the marathon adventure, said: "Polar expedition was one of the biggest challenges of the last century, but finding a cure for diseases such as MND is the big challenge of this century. We chose this cause because research into the disease is chronically under funded, yet nearly every doctor I have spoken to acknowledges that it is the cruellest and most devastating disease in the world."

The University of Sheffield is already home to the UK's leading clinical research department for MND. The new Institute will become the world's first stand-alone centre dedicated to fighting the disease, where leading scientists can come together in a state-of-the-art building.

Jeremy added: "Since we began our fundraising I have had the honour to visit the team at the University of Sheffield, including Head of Neurology Professor Pamela Shaw, who is the driving force behind the new Institute. She is a great inspiration as she is incredibly passionate about finding a cure for MND."

The pair have been in training for the last six months, dragging tyres around London's Hyde Park and along Devon's beaches, in a bid to prepare them for carrying their heavy equipment through mountains and across ice sheets.

Stephen Sly, Sheffield office managing partner for leading commercial law firm DLA Piper, is chair of the trustees of the charity set up to deliver the Institute.  He said: "The challenge that Jeremy and Doug have taken on is truly amazing and we are delighted that they have chosen to raise money for the Institute.

"Their exceptional physical and fundraising efforts have the potential to offer real hope to all sufferers of MND. The Institute will represent a focus of international excellence for research in MND, offering training to scientists and clinicians from within the UK and around the world."

MND is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which attacks the upper and lower motor neurons. Around 5,000 people are living with MND at any one time in the UK and at present there is no cure.

Professor Pam Shaw, Head of Neurology at the University of Sheffield said: "Doug and Jeremy are such a courageous and inspiring pair.  They are embarking on an extremely challenging expedition and are using this as an opportunity to do some real good in the world.  There is no human disease more worthy of support than motor neurone disease and I am so honoured that they have chosen to support the Institute.  My whole team will be willing them on during every step of their intrepid adventure and look forward to their safe return in early 2009".    

The £600,000 already raised has come from a combination of individuals and companies, which includes substantial donations from Healthcare at Home and Doug's company Hutton Collins Partners.

Jeremy added: "It's incredibly exciting to be taking part in this expedition and it will no doubt be the biggest achievements of both our lives. We are not underestimating the difficulties we will face in what is arguably the most inhospitable place in the world, but if it means the Sheffield Institute can work towards finding a cure for MND then we will relish the challenge."

For more information on the expedition or to sponsor the Jeremy and Doug visit www.southpole2008.org.

Categories: DLA Piper