Sale cancer victim fulfils lifetime ambition and is spending the night at the North Pole

EXCLUSIVE….

He’s done it!  Chris Harrop, from Sale, who suffers from an incurable cancer, reached the North Pole today to fulfil a lifetime dream, and hopefully raise money and awareness of  leukaemia.

Chris, 49,who lives in Atkinson Road in Sale,  has to take chemotherapy tablets every day.

.His wife Joanne, received the news earlier today by satellite phone. Chris rang to say he had reached the North Pole. after flying in to the Barneo Ice Camp just a few kilometres away from the North Pole.

Joanne told Sale Today:”Just had a very short and excited call from 90 degrees north!    That was the signal to say he has made it.  We would like to thank all those who have made it possible for their support.  It is a remarkable achievement. I am so proud of him.”

Chris is planning to stay the night in a tent on the ice. The temperatures drop to -45C.

He said to Sale Today earlier: ”I have some lessons in Artic Survival . I really hope the bad weather holds off and I can get there. Its an obsession of mine  I guess, I have always been fascinated by the North Pole. And to think it is possible to spend a night there under canvas – well words fail me-  to describe the feeling,” said Chris.

His cancer was spotted two years ago when Chris went for a health check up.  He was originally  planning an overland trek to the North Pole, but that had to be cancelled on doctors orders.

“Last night he met with the Russian expedition leaders to prepare for a flight to Barneo Ice Camp. The camp was set a few weeks ago and has slowly drifted South with the ice.   Chris has been based at Longyearbyen in the Svaldbald archipelago which is 78 degrees North.

He remembers the day when he was told  the news that he had got cancer.  “You can imagine my shock. It was devastating news, especially when the doctor told me that it was incurable.  It was my wife – Joanne – who suggested the health check up – I guess she sensed something was wrong.  But without her intervention I would not be here today.

”I received treatment and still have to take chemotherapy drugs every day – but I’m still here, and every day is a bonus.

“We talked about it when the news came through and we were very positive. I was not going to let the leukaemia win. I was going to beat it.  But all my plans for the trip had to be scrapped.  But I vowed to get to the North Pole one day.

Now after a two year wait  the dream has come true for Chris.

‘I am doing it now to raise funds for Leukaemia CARE and to make people aware of the disease and to say to them that anything is possible if you have the belief and will to fight. Chris has so far  raised  £5200 funds for the charity.

“My wife Joanne has been incredible – she has been supporting me all the way, but she can’t be with me at the Pole, but without her help, encouragement and love – I would not be going.”

“The ice cap is constantly moving so we have got a GPS device to tell us when we are at the North Pole.

Chris has launched a Just Giving page to raise funds for Leukaemia CARE and awareness  of the disease.   You can find out more at:-