Pioneering Mark Gets Set for His Latest Adventure

Mark Beaumont, Saltire Foundation Patron, Scholar and serial explorer will leave dry land behind to take on oars and choppy waters in his latest expedition to the Canadian Arctic. Mark joins a team of six men, led by Scottish explorer Jock Wishart, which aims to be the first to row the 450 mile journey through the Arctic to a former point of the North Magnetic Pole.

Mark was asked to join the expedition by the BBC to be both a cameraman and an oarsman. The Polar Regions have long been accepted as a barometer for the world's changing climate. No one has ever reached such a northern latitude by water in North America, so if the team succeeds it will be a bitter sweet victory, providing evidence of the rapidly changing polar icecap.

The arduous journey is expected to take six weeks and training has been going well, leaving Mark feeling positive about the challenge ahead. He says: "I am looking forwards, with some trepidation. It is important to keep testing my abilities, both physically and mentally, in new ways; as an athlete and a documentary maker, ocean rowing is a massive change from my recent cycling expeditions. My passion to attempt world firsts has certainly taken me to some incredible places, but none as remote or fast changing as the Arctic. Our journey to the icy North will highlight to a global audience how the polar ice cap is melting".

Mark was a Saltire Scholar at Liberty Mutual in Boston, an experience which he credits with giving him the confidence to take on his greatest expedition ideas. CEO Sandy Kennedy said: ""Once again, our Patron and Saltire Scholar, Mark Beaumont is undertaking an amazing adventure. He is a fantastic role model for what you can achieve when you aim high and work (really) hard - be it as an adventurer or in business. We wish him the very best of luck and look forward to hearing all about it on his return".

Mark will deliver the key note speech at the inaugural Saltire Foundation Dinner, Aluminate, on 22^nd September at 29 Private Members Club, Glasgow. In the meantime you can follow Mark's adventure on his website www.markbeaumontonline.com and on twitter @MrMarkBeaumont

For more information on Aluminate, including ticket sales, contact Claire.johnston@saltirefoundation.com