Fiona Thornewill, 37, a recruitment consultant, will be attempting to trek from Patriot Hills to the South Pole, solo and unsupported.

In 2001, that Fiona - accompanied by her husband Mike Thornewill, Catherine Hartley and the guide Paul Landry - succeeded in completing the route between Ward Hunt and the North Pole in 55 days (see our account of this expedition). And in 2000, again with her husband and Catherine Hartley, she reached the South Pole with ANI.

Parallel with her attempt this time, Fiona's husband Mike will be leading another expedition,"Shackleton's Unfinished Journey", which along with some polar first-timers, will be attempting to cover the final 97 miles that the famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton never managed during his attempt to reach the South Pole in 1907