Adventures don’t get much bigger than travelling on foot and skis across the Arctic Circle, but that is precisely what three local men are planning to attempt early in the New Year.

Two volunteers with Drogheda Coast Guard, Seánie Maguire and Shashi Sopirala along with Seánie’s brother Stephen, are currently in training for the trip of a lifetime which will see them trek through the Arctic Circle hauling heavy sleds, snowshoeing and camping out in temperatures as low as minus 35°.

The hardy trio will fly into Tromso in Norway on January 10 and will then travel out on to a frozen lake called Kilpisjarvi for more training to prepare them for a trek across the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish borders into the province of Lapland.

After a few days training, along with a team of seven or eight other volunteers, they will embark on a 36 hour trek camping outdoors in extreme weather pulling sleds weighing 25kg each, cross country skiing and snow-shoeing across the Tundra.

This would be many people’s idea of hell on earth but the lads are not taking on this challenge just for fun, they are taking part in the Sightsavers' First Light for Sight Sunrise Expedition and are hoping to raise as much money as possible for the charity.

The money they raise will help provide more than 2,800 cataract operations for people living in some of the world’s poorest countries, to help provide essential eye-care, treatment and surgeries worldwide and in particular the developing world.

As part of their training and to keep the fundraising ball rolling there will be a walk on Saturday November 2nd from St. Peter's steps in Drogheda, following the Boyne Camino trail up to Mellifont, Townley Hall, Tullyallen Oldbridge and along the boardwalk.

That event is fully subscribed but there is of course a way you can help and that is by donating online and you can start your journey by clicking HERE

To donate to Shashi's fund Click Here