Five Britons, Simon Daglish (39), James Daly (40), Roger Weatherby (42), Ed Farquhar (39) and Geoff Sommers (54, their guide) are looking to re-enact a piece of history.

Their goal is to make the crossing (as far as the Pole) achieved by Robert F. Scott's expedition from the day when, on mid January 1912, the famous explorer sent back three men to base camp and then made his final assault on the South Pole with his four last companions, Birdie Bowers, Titus Oates, Edgard Evans and Bill Wilson, with 170 miles still to cover; they reached the South Pole 14 days later, only to die on the return journey - around 17th March - when they were only 180 km from their goal at Cape Evans.

Today's British contingent will be equipped in the same way as Scott's explorers and will use exactly the same techniques - identical sledge construction, same food, etc.

At the same time, they will be raising funds for the following organisations: Tommy's, the baby charity, The Winnicott Foundation and Racing Welfare