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Daredevil Helen Skelton racing to the South Pole

Jan 8 2012 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

DAREDEVIL Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton is already battling blisters on her charity polar adventure, just days into the challenge.

The 28-year-old, from Kirkby Thore, near Penrith, Cumbria, was meant to set off on her gruelling 500-mile ski, kite and ice bike journey across Antarctica to the South Pole for Sport Relief on January 1, but bad weather delayed the start.

She finally got underway shortly before 10am last Wednesday, but will need to cover some 40 miles a day – not the 25 miles originally envisaged – if she’s going to make it within the time frame.

The former Newsround presenter is no stranger to unusual sporting challenges.

Her previous exploits include high-wire walking between the chimneys of Battersea power station in London and becoming the first person to solo kayak the length of the Amazon.

This time she’s aiming to set a new world record for the longest bicycle journey on snow.

Helen spent Christmas Day in Antarctica and has had to cope with temperatures as low as minus 26C, a diet of dehydrated rations, illness and snow storms.