A Midland veteran embarks on a 300-mile Arctic trek to honor his past and raise funds for charity
Tipton: A former soldier from Midland is taking on a big challenge. Karl Hinett, who suffered severe burns in Iraq, is going on a 300-mile Arctic trek. He’s doing this with three other veterans to raise money for charity.
This trek marks 20 years since Karl was injured in a petrol bomb attack. He was part of the Staffordshire regiment and faced life-changing injuries. Karl had 37 percent burns and went through 16 surgeries to recover.
He’s not alone in this adventure. Celebrity veterans like Jason Fox, Aldo Kane, and Brian Wood are joining him. They’ll tackle the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra in March. It’s a ten-day trek through snow and ice.
“I’m really excited to be out there with the team,” Karl said. He wants to celebrate his journey and raise funds for SSAFA, a charity that helps veterans like him.
“It’s born from fire and celebrating in ice,” he added. Since 2005, Karl has run many marathons and even climbed Mount Manaslu in Nepal. He’s done amazing things, but this challenge is different.
“I never thought I’d be here after my injury,” he shared. “I’ve been lucky to climb high mountains and run over 170 marathons. But this trek will be tough because of the cold and distance.”
To prepare, the team trained in northern Sweden. They practiced skiing on frozen lakes while pulling sleds with their gear. They also learned how to set up tents and cook in the snow.
Jason Fox, known as Foxy, has done many tough expeditions. He believes this one will be the hardest yet. “It’s going to be brutal,” he said. He’s also passionate about mental health support for veterans.
“I wouldn’t be here without SSAFA,” he admitted. Aldo Kane, who has a lot of adventure experience, is also excited to give back to veterans. He’s done many extreme challenges but this will be his first ultra race.
Brian Wood, a military cross recipient, is nervous about the cold. “I’m used to warm weather,” he said. He wants to push himself for a good cause and help raise awareness for veterans.
To learn more about their journey, check out Project Fire and Ice’s fundraising page.
