Charlie
is part of the Commando Joe team - a group of men whose objective
is to take on some of the world's most extreme challenges to raise
money for the Meningitis Trust.
Meningitis
is an inflammation of the brain lining which can cause serious disability
or death and its symptoms can appear flu-like.
The
team have chosen to support the Gloucestershire based charity for
a reason - team member Pete Rowlands lost his son to the disease
in 2003. For Pete, his wife Helen and daughter Sian, the Meningitis
Trust has provided much-needed help and support.
The
group's desire to 'challenge the extreme' has resulted in them lining
up a gruelling series of challenges over the next three years to
raise awareness about the disease and money for the charity.
Polar
Challenge
In
2005, Charlie Martell and Steve Clewley will be heading to the Arctic
to take part in the Polar Challenge. This is a competitive team
race to the 1996 location of the Magnetic North Pole
and beyond, with the finish line at the deserted Isachsen salt mine.
Events
do not come much harder than skiing and walking 320 miles, carrying
all your supplies behind you on a 90kg sled and experiencing a harsh
environment where temperatures can get as low as -40°C.
The
region is also home to around 80% of the world's polar bears, and
they're regarded as one of the most dangerous creatures you could
meet!
The
team for this challenge includes Gloucestershire's Charlie Martell
and Steve Crawley, and they'll start the Polar Challenge on April
22nd 2005.
Atlantic
Challenge
In
2006 the Commando Joe team will take on the Atlantic Challenge -
crossing the 2,800 nautical miles of the North Atlantic rowing route.
This challenge will involve four men spending more than 40 days
in a specially designed 36ft rowing boat.
The
Challenge will start from from the North American Coastline in summer
2006 and finish in Plymouth, England. The team could well be facing
some seriously extreme conditions as they make their way across
the ocean - cold temperatures, fog and icebergs as well as fierce
storms are all common in this area.
The
Commando Joe team for this challenge includes Charlie, Pete Rowlands,
Mark Waterson and Angus MacMillian.
An
example of how dangerous the route can be came in summer 2004 when
a four-man attempt on the 55 day rowing record ended in failure
after a freak 60ft wave destroyed their boat. Thankfully, all four
were rescued.
Beside
raising money for the Meningitis Trust, the team will also be aiming
to break that 55 day record which was set by Tom McClean in 1987.
Crossing
the desert
The
final challenge will take place in 2007 with Charlie Martell taking
on the task of the Marathon des Sables, or Sahara Desert race.
It's
known as the toughest footrace on earth because Charlie will have
to cover 151 miles over six days – that's equivalent to five-and-a-half
regular marathons! He
will also have to carry everything he will need for the duration
of the challenge in a rucksack.
In
addition to this Charlie will also face the searing desert heat
where midday temperatures can reach up to 48°C. He will be taking
on this challenge sometime in 2007.
Sponsorship
If
you want to sponsor Commando Joe for any of the extreme challenges
they're undertaking, please check out their
for details.
We'll
be following Commando Joe as they prepare for and undertake the
series of extreme challenges - keep checking for updates!

If
you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
or have your say on our
|