Molar Explorer

My name is Cat, The Molar Explorer.

I am a dentist with a sense of adventure, and with this challenge, I've stepped it up a gear, raising money for charity by embarking on a solo, unsupported expedition to the South Pole.

The expedition itself will involve me skiing 700 miles, hauling all my fuel, food and equipment behind me in a pulk, enduring temperatures as low as -50c and wind speeds of up to 60mph.

"But why?!" I hear you ask. I have to admit that the answer hasn't been easy to articulate. I suppose I can draw a parallel with George Leigh Mallory when he was asked why he wanted to climb Everest; "because it is there". That sounds like a

simple answer, but the inspiration first came from leafing through my Dad's National Geographic magazines as a child and discovering that Antarctica was the largest desert on earth. The incredible polar history and the stories of famous expeditions and leaders such as Shakleton, have only fed that desire.

Only a handful of female adventurers have completed this solo, unsupported trek to the South Pole, and I want to add my name to them to inspire other women and girls to aim high and dare to dream. I have been used to quietly achieving my goals, with my lack of a fuss often resulting in my abilities being underestimated. I use this to my advantage, and I know that this silent focus will be the key to my success in Antarctica.

Through my training for this expedition, I have become aware of the lack of female-related data when it comes to exercise and fitness and the resulting gender-bias that directly impacts female health. I will be taking part in research whilst on the ice, monitoring the effect of stress and endurance on my hormones. I am excited to be contributing to and highlighting this essential research, which will educate and directly impact women involved in their health.

I have always combined my love for everything 'teeth' with my passion for travel and working in challenging environments. Access to dentistry is a hot topic amongst the public and politicians, with thousands of patients struggling to secure the care they need. This lack of access also results in a lack of opportunity to educate people on preventing dental decay and gum disease. With this expedition, I hope that I can use my platform to raise awareness of dental disease and educate a larger audience on its prevention.

I plan to cover the cost of the expedition through sponsorship, so this GoFundMe is raising funds that will be equally divided between Bridge to Aid and Community Action Nepal, helping them in the training of local people to deliver healthcare to remote communities.