6th April 2011

Close Asset Management: Close aims to put rob in pole position

Close Asset Management are proud to sponsor Rob MacAlister, 36, in his bid to win an international competition to trek to the Magnetic North Pole. The race will take place in April as teams compete to win the Blue Ice Trophy.

Rob, a computer salesman from Teddington, has been in training for 18 months for the epic race which takes place on foot and ski over 500+ kilometres of sea ice from Resolute Bay in Northern Canada to the Magnetic North Pole. Rob who is racing to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care will be part of a team consisting of three people named the Polar Slugs. They will be racing against Americans, Fins, ex Marines, British soldiers and others in a big to reach the destination over four legs.

During his polar trek, Rob will have his endurance tested to the limit as he faces temperatures of minus 30 degrees, but the wind-chill will bring temperatures down still further to around minus 45 degrees. To make matters worse, the Polar Slugs will have to pull sledges (known as pulks) which weigh a hefty 75Kg empty. They will have to be entirely self sufficient transporting everything they need for the race. People in these sorts of conditions can expect to burn up to 9,000 calories every day and will need to eat a minimum of 6,000 to keep going.

Jackie Ronson, Chief Customer Officer of Close Asset Management, said: "We are very proud sponsors of Rob's race to the Magnetic North Pole. It is a huge undertaking requiring superhuman endurance and we are behind Rob 100 percent and look forward to regular updates on his progress."

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