LIVERPUDLIAN ADVENTURER, LISA POVER IS OFF TO RACE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLES. Fresh from her round the world sailing trip, Lisa, 30, is in full training for the trip next spring. She chatted to Lifestyle Monthly about her extra ordinary life in which she also raises money for disadvantaged people through The Lisa Pover Trust.. HOW DID YOU GET TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD? I was stuck in a rut on the cabs, my job was soul destroying and so I answered an advert in a local newspaper to go on the challenge of a lifetime. it was was to take part in the first leg of the Liverpool Boat Race. My husband told me to stay behind and pay the mortgage but I didn’t listen! Since then I have become a fully qualified skipper and freelance on boats up and down the country, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHARITABLE TRUST. I want to inspire disadvantaged people.There are a lot of people who have never been given any inspiration to better themselves or do well in their life.They live in generations of families who do nothing. I came from a similar background and I know how these people feel.They lead dysfunctional lives in their own villages,, with no confidence and they’re not in a good place, mentally. But I was academic and set out to better myself. I joined the cadets when I was 13 and went through the ranks. So far I have raised £50,000.With the money I am getting kids on the water and giving them inspiration. It’s a local solution for local people. IS YOUR HUSBAND SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU DO? Most definitely. We both come from similar backgrounds. He runs alternative educational programmes for 14-16 year olds.We both want to help people. WHAT’S THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION YOU’VE BEEN IN? When we were sailing round the world we had broken sails and fishing nets caught under the boat after we’d been in a storm. But I never thought we were in danger.We worked as a team and I am not the type of person who panics. DID YOU GET TO STAY IN MANY OF THE PLACES YOU VISITED? Mostly two or 3 days, depending on the port, but we stayed in Western Australia for two weeks as the boat was fixed.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? Well ironically I am not the strongest swimmer. I am mostly fearless but I wouldn’t do bee keeping. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRIP TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLE. I am going with two people I met on facebook.In April 2012 we take on the North Pole challenge, a 320 nautical mile race across the rugged sea ice and treacherous islands of the High Arctic in the home of the largest land based predator, the polar bear. In December 2012 we race 500 miles across one of the highest, driest and coldest deserts on the planet, facing crevasses a mile deep, winds of up to 80mph and temperatures as low as -50C. Both races are organised by Extreme World Races who were behind the critically acclaimed Top Gear North Pole Special and Ben Fogle and James Cracknell’s “On Thin Ice”. We will be racing on cross country skis, pulling pulks, containing all our equipment, food and fuel, which will weigh up to 50kg. Frostbite will be a very real and constant threat, we want to return with all our fingers and toes! We will also have to endure blisters, sleep deprivation, exhaustion and the most basic of living conditions. How we come together as a team will be crucial, we were all on different yachts in our sailing race, so as yet we don’t really know how the others behave under pressure. YOU ARE A VERY INSPIRATIONAL PERSON. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE ELSE WANTING TO DO IT? Just go for it. Honestly, anyone can do it. It’s not a big deal really.
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