My name is James Redden, an IT consultant. Like many of you, I love the outdoors and like to keep myself as fit as it is possible for someone of, ahem, 49 years old (not something I like to admit as it always feels to me as if time is fleeting).
My journey to locations such as the North Pole, Norway, Canada, the Sahara Desert and other locations started way back when I was a young boy. As a child, I read book after book after book. I devoured fiction like it was a rare treat offered to the beasts of the Serengeti. My daydreams carried me to mythical destinations, each filled with hidden mysteries and strange creatures. These were amazing years.
Later I discovered the joys of non-fiction. Tales of great explorers such as Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Ranulph Fiennes were consumed and made part of the many vivid dreams I found in the dark hours. The path was set – I decided to become an explorer. My wakeful hours were filled with crazy dreams of how I was going to conquer some as-yet-unknown destinations. There was only one problem: life!
When the enormity and reality of planning and funding an expedition hit home, at the age of about 18, I realised that my dreams might have to be put on hold.
Thriteen years later, worn out from many trips around the globe, I left the service and embarked on a new career in technology. After ten years of working with many of the biggest companies in the world I started to feel a familiar itch; the urge for adventure was upon me again.
One night, whilst celebrating my 44th birthday, and after a couple of drinks, I boldly announced my intention to ski to the North Pole. The next day, my head feeling a little thicker than usual, I called my friend Olivier with the intention of laughing the announcement off as a big joke.
Too late! He’d already found a charity for me to represent and had told the CEO of my plans. There was no going back.
On the 21st April 2016 I reached the North Pole. And what a journey it was. The serenity and beauty of the place was unlike anything I had ever known. I was hooked.
From there on in, I made it my mission to continue exploring whilst raising funds for a local charity, Soundabout. I’ve seen firsthand the amazing work done by this organisation and was simply blown away after seeing the difference music can make to disabled people.
That’s me. If you’d like to get in touch then please head over to the contact page.