Scout leader to head for Pole

Thursday, 02 August 2012

A SCOUT leader from South East Cornwall is to spearhead the first Scout expedition to the North Pole in 2014.
Wez Swain, of 2nd Torpoint Scouts, will lead the expedition with a team of Scouts drawn from across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Avon.
They will also have two professional polar guides to help them ski the final 120 miles from their base camp to the Pole.
The cost of the expedition is likely to be in the region of £200,000 and they hope to raise the majority of the money through major sponsorship from companies which believe that inspiring the youth of today will create a better world in the future.
Wez led 40 Scouts to the World Jamboree in Sweden last year. He has received the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and the Queen’s Scout Award.
He has completed each Ten Tors discipline and walked the entire South West Coast Path.
Wez is also a professional circus tutor and provides workshops at schools and Scout and Guide groups throughout the South West.
Wez said of the expedition: ‘I am very excited about leading this expedition. Not only is it a world first and a great time for Cornish Scouting, but it shows that there is still a massive spirit of adventure in the youth of today.
‘I have always said always follow your dreams, if you work for them long and hard enough, anything is possible!!’
 At present Wez is easily recognised by his dreadlocks that he has sported for more than 12 years but he will not be able to keep them for the trek to the North Pole so he is having them cut off to raise money for the expedition.
He has organised ‘Tea in the Park 5’ tomorrow from noon until late at Benodet Park of Friendship in Torpoint. At 4pm his dreadlocks will be cut and people who donate the most will have the opportunity to chop some off. 

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