Southwestern Ontario Business Men Ski to the Top of the World for Charity

Date Posted: 3/21/2006

LONDON, ON, March 21, 2006 – In April 2006, Peter Turkstra, Steve Stipsits, Fred Losani and Scott Shawyer will be joining three other adventurers and skiing to the North Pole to raise money for local charities.

This ambitious expedition will take the team of adventurers – seven in all – to one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. It’s a 110 km journey across ice and snow in round-the-clock daylight and -30 to -50 degree weather.

The ‘To the Top of the World Charity’ expedition is scheduled for April 7 – 22, 2006 and hopes to raise $500,000 to assist children and families in Southwestern Ontario, and to support Altruvest Charitable Services, an organization which provides a number of programs and tools to Canadian charities, so the charities in turn are able to deliver more value to their communities.

Team member Peter Turkstra stated “if a bunch of guys can cross country ski to the North Pole, surely we can find a way to make sure children don’t go to school hungry.”

All expenses are being paid by the team members to ensure all funds raised go directly to their respective charities.

All four businessmen, who have been training for the past number of months, will ski with veteran explorer Doug Stoup - trekking over drifting ice packs on the Arctic Ocean to the Geographic North Pole - literally to the top of the world.

Doug and the team of adventurers will fly from Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway) to Borneo Ice Station at 89N; where they'll ski the remaining 110 km to the Pole. The team will send back daily dispatches via satellite; and allow public school students from across Ontario to ask questions over the internet (www.iceaxekids.com).

An HDTV documentary of the expedition will be filmed for DVD release, along with live coverage (audio and video dispatches on ICE AXE TV – www.iceaxe.tv).

Doug Stoup, expedition leader and world explorer will be in Hamilton to present and explain this incredible journey to area schools.

Hess Street School- Public School - March 21st at 1 p.m.
Cathedral Secondary - Catholic School - March 22 1 p.m.
Dundas Central - Public School - March 21 at 10:40 a.m.

The Team
Peter Turkstra – President Turkstra Lumber
Steve Stipsits – President of Branthaven Homes
Fred Losani – President of Losani Homes
Scott Shawyer – President of JMP Engineering
Doug Stoup – Expedition leader

Charities involved:
Kid’s food program to provide nourishment in city schools
Music Program for kids
Altruvest Charitable Services

Other local charities - all aimed at providing resources to children or families that need assistance.

Contacts:
*All Media - Interviews and photos will be available.*
Scott Shawyer
JMP Engineering Inc.
519-652-2741