Elgin colleague David's Arctic adventure to raise money for hospice

Adventurous colleague David Philips is swapping the frozen aisles of our Elgin store for the frozen lands of the Arctic to raise money for the Highland Hospice.

Deputy manager David, who's 37, hopes he and friends Christopher Andrew and Francesca Marchetti will raise at least £16,000 by tackling the 270km Lapland Husky Trail in sub-zero temperatures from Tromso in Norway to the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarv, Sweden, in March next year.

The intrepid trio – who are are members of the Highland Martial Arts Centre in Inverness – will be accompanied by guides during the journey, but will be doing most of the work themselves including looking after the welfare of the huskies and setting up and making camps.

David, who's worked at the store for eight years, said: "I did a challenge for the hospice a couple of years ago where we rowed down the whole of the Great Glen, so this new challenge came off the back of that.

"I've had a few family members who've been in the hospice and they do a fantastic job there. They do a great deal of good work and that is what inspired me to help them. Our fundraising target is £16,000, but we want to blow that out of the water!

"The trek itself will also be a great life experience for us all and we are al looking forward to it. It will be very challenging, but I'm the sort of person who loves a challenge. Operating in the cold conditions will be tricky too.

"I previously went on a family trip to Iceland and hoped to see the Northern Lights but that didn't happen so I hope I'll have more luck this time."

Kaye McLeod, Asda Elgin's community champion, says colleagues are all supporting David. She said: "It is a fantastic fundraiser and we wish him all the best."

If you'd like to sponsor David, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-philips1983