Supporting Polar Preet on her epic challenge!

Team Army/Team Ethos is proud to announce another incredibly worthy recipient of a COVID Bounceback grant … PolarPreet!

Captain Preet Chandi, an Army physiotherapist is planning an extraordinary expedition to trek unassisted to the South Pole this winter. As a British born Indian Sikh, she will be the first Asian woman to undertake a solo expedition in Antarctica. Only a few female adventurers have previously completed unsupported treks in this environment and Preet is therefore aiming to make history as well as to inspire future generations. The journey will take approximately 45 days to complete. Preet will have to dig deep to endure dragging her pulk for 700 miles in hostile and dangerous terrain whilst battling wind speeds of up to 60mph and temperatures of -50C.

If Preet is successful in reaching the South Pole, she plans to return to Antarctica and attempt an unassisted crossing of the entire continent. This would catapult her into the history books as one of the greatest living explorers.

Capt Preet Chandi stated, “My aim for this expedition is to inspire others to achieve anything they want and to redefine what’s possible. The power of seeing someone that looks like you can change or shape how you view yourself. I want to show and tell you that the world is your oyster. There is so much you can do, let’s break down those barriers!”

Maj Gen Lamont Kirkland, CEO Team Army said, “Preet has a unique and compelling backstory and is one of the most determined, tenacious and motivated women I have encountered. The world needs more adventurous women who see challenges not barriers and have the courage to pursue an idea. Team Army has a history of supporting Polar explorers so we are extremely proud to be supporting Preet on her historic and ambitious journey to the end of the earth.”

To prepare for the challenge Preet has completed expeditions in Norway and Greenland and is currently training under the management of Capt Lou Rudd, whom Team Army/Team Ethos supported on his solo crossing of Antarctica in 2018.

"We are delighted to be able to help support Captain Preet in this incredible journey. Her courage, commitment and sheer tenacity is an example to us all, both serving and civilian; she has dared to dream and we wish her every success in what will be a feat of endurance that will mark her place in history. We are equally delighted to be able to support TeamEthos whose work to support the military is invaluable at a time when the pressures on serving personnel are greater than ever before."

Tim Redfern, Managing Director for Defence, Amey

Visit the Amey website

“We are thrilled to be part of Preet’s adventure. It’s a fantastic challenge and we all look forward to supporting Preet as she inspires us all!”

Tom Samuel, Chief Executive, Harmonic

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“Ultra is committed to acting as a positive force in the communities in which we operate. We are very proud to be supporting Preet and her incredibly brave expedition in Antarctica. She brilliantly symbolises our EMPOWERING, PERFORMING and AGILE company values and we hope that her mission goes on to inspire many more future generations of men and women.”

Simon Pryce, Chief Executive Ultra Electronic Holdings plc

Visit the Ultra website

“When we heard of Preet’s expedition we immediately wanted to support and be part of her significant journey. Her remarkable story will no doubt inspire all of us and future generations to challenge, overcome limitations and be brave. We are honoured to be part of the team supporting Preet on her exceptional trek, and look forward to her making the history books.”

Tim Gibson, Vice President Fujitsu Defence & National Security

Visit the Fujitsu website

“We are proud to support Captain Preet on her amazing adventure to trek unassisted to the South Pole. Her aim to inspire others to achieve anything they want and to redefine what’s possible is one we should all aspire to. Through our funding of Preet, and Team Ethos we continue to support our serving men and women in all their endeavours, they are an inspiration.”

Craig Taylor, Head of Marketing Communications, Excelitas Qioptiq

Visit the Excelitas Qioptiq website

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ABOUT PREET

Currently based at a Medical Regiment in the North West of England Preet’s primary role is as a physiotherapist but in addition, she’s the medical lead for the Army Rugby 7s team and occasionally works with the Army Engagement team. Preet is studying part-time for her MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Queen Mary’s University and has recently returned from a six-month UN peacekeeping tour in South Sudan.

Although Preet has a day job, her first love is adventure, and pushing mental and physical boundaries. As well as playing tennis competitively for the Army she is training to become a Nordic ski instructor. She has hiked and climbed in Kenya, Morocco, Mexico, Nepal, Bolivia, Peru, Iceland and the Alps and last year she completed the gruelling Marathon des Sables – a six-day, 251km ultra-marathon in the Saharan desert.

Find out more about this gruelling expedition at polarpreet.com

SUPPORTERS

“This is a solo expedition but I’m not doing this on my own, there are so many people supporting me.”

Captain Preet Chandi

Amey

Amey Secure Infrastructure is the leading organisation in facilities services. We provide integrated asset, environmental and project management. We provide our clients with the knowledge and insight they need to manage complex estates that are essential to the safe running of the country.

Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.

Team Army

Dell Technologies is committed to transforming businesses, shaping the future of innovation and developing technologies to drive human progress.

Qioptiq

Qioptiq is part of Excelitas Technologies, a technology leader in delivering high-performance advanced defence and aerospace solutions delivering mission-critical performance, reliability and support. We work closely with our customers providing expert capability every step of the way. Our expertise in Thermal, Fused and night vision equipment, energetic safety systems, electro-optics, sensors and detectors, enables us to meet the exacting requirements of our customers.

Fujitsu

For over 50 years Fujitsu has innovated with the MOD, Government Departments and intelligence communities, co-creating new technologies and capabilities. We understand that within the military, end-to-end digitalisation is crucial, and are committed to developing innovative digital solutions that overcome the complexities of transformation and deliver decision advantage. As a result, Fujitsu has security cleared staff and experience to deliver and manage both generic industry offerings and those tailored to specialist needs at all levels of classification. From IT Service Management, secure cloud, software defined networking, information and application integration, Artificial Intelligence and Dev Ops.

Fujitsu promote a Human Centric Intelligent Society, in which innovation is driven by the integration of people, information and infrastructure.

Team Army

Team Army and Team Ethos are co-brands of a programme which helps to fund sport, challenge and adventure in the armed forces community in order to improve health, wellbeing and recovery. We help the best get better.

Harmonic

Harmonic provides enterprise-wide business winning and project delivery services to some of the UK’s largest and most successful businesses. We achieve this through close, long-term client relationships that are underpinned by mutual trust and an ability to drive profitable and sustainable growth for our clients.

Ultra

Ultra Electronic Holdings plc specialises in providing application-engineered bespoke solutions. We focus on our customers’ mission critical and intelligent systems in the defence, security, critical detection & control markets. Our capabilities and technologies can be found on many of the world’s long-term military programmes.

THE BOUNCEBACK FUND

The Team Army Sports Foundation, in association with Ultra Electronics Holdings plc (Ultra), recently created the COVID Bounceback Fund to help armed forces groups and communities recover from the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The trustees will award grants to support activities which create the opportunity to improve mental and physical wellbeing in armed forces personnel, including WIS veterans, through sport, challenge or adventure during 2021 or 2022. Bids can be submitted to enquiries@teamforces.org at any time throughout 2021.

Visit Covid Bounceback Fund for further information.