From Brigstock to the Arctic: Couple Take on 100km Challenge in -30°C

After climbing Kilimanjaro and running 209 miles across Iceland, Stuart and Sam Douglas are preparing for their next extraordinary adventure — while raising money for four cancer charities.

A married couple from Brigstock are preparing to swap the Northamptonshire countryside for the frozen wilderness of Swedish Lapland as they take on a gruelling 100km ultramarathon in temperatures that could plummet to -30°C.

Stuart and Sam Douglas will travel to northern Sweden in January to compete in the Ultra4Cancer Lapland 100km, a two-day endurance event that will see them cover 50km each day across frozen lakes, snow-covered trails and remote Arctic forests.

For the adventurous couple, who have made a habit of tackling extraordinary challenges together, the event promises to be one of their toughest yet.

In 2023, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain at 5,895 metres. Last year, they went a considerable step further, running 209 miles from North to South across Iceland, battling challenging terrain and unpredictable weather along the way.

During their Iceland adventure, Sam also raised more than £2,500 for Jordan's Weeones, demonstrating that their passion for adventure can also make a difference to others.

Now, they are preparing for a very different environment, where the extreme cold could prove as challenging as the distance itself.

At temperatures of -30°C, drinking water can freeze, food becomes difficult to manage and exposed skin can suffer frostbite in minutes. Add deep snow, limited daylight and the physical demands of running 50km on consecutive days, and the scale of the challenge becomes clear.

"We've always loved adventure and pushing ourselves to see what we're capable of," said Stuart.

"Kilimanjaro was an incredible experience, and running across Iceland was something neither of us will ever forget. But Lapland is going to be something completely different. It's not just the distance — it's having to manage everything that comes with spending two days running in extreme Arctic conditions."

The couple, who moved back to Brigstock in 2012, are enthusiastic supporters of village life and local events, including the popular Brigstock Beer Festival.

Although it was the promise of another extraordinary adventure that initially attracted them to Ultra4Cancer, the event also provides an opportunity to raise money for four cancer charities.

For Stuart, the cause has a particularly personal significance. He lost his mother to cancer in 2003.

"We chose the event because it looked like an incredible adventure, but being able to raise money for cancer charities makes it even more worthwhile," he explained.

"I lost my mum to cancer more than 20 years ago, and although time moves on, you never forget what the disease can do to a family. If we can enjoy another adventure together while helping people affected by cancer, that can only be a good thing."

Stuart and Sam are personally funding their travel, accommodation, specialist equipment and other costs associated with taking part, allowing their fundraising efforts to focus on supporting the charities.

Preparations are already under way, with long training sessions, careful equipment selection and plenty of thought going into how they will cope with the demands of prolonged exercise in extreme cold.

But for the couple, the appeal of these adventures goes beyond physical fitness or simply collecting another medal.

"One of the best things about doing these challenges together is sharing the experience," said Stuart.

"There are always moments when things get difficult, when you're tired, uncomfortable and wondering why on earth you signed up. But those are often the moments you look back on most fondly.

"We're not professional athletes. We're just a married couple who enjoy seeing a bit of the world and occasionally making life rather more difficult for ourselves than it needs to be!"

As January approaches, the couple are looking forward to another unforgettable experience, hoping to complete the 100km challenge while raising as much money as possible for the four charities supported by Ultra4Cancer.

And while most Northamptonshire residents will be hoping to avoid freezing temperatures this winter, Stuart and Sam will be heading towards them voluntarily.

After two days running through the Arctic at -30°C, even the coldest morning in Brigstock might feel positively tropical.

Anyone wishing to support Stuart and Sam's Ultra4Cancer fundraising can donate at: https://givestar.io/gs/ultra-4-cancer--swedish-lapland-2027-88457?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=IwY2xjawU-01JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMVhtRTBSVjhCWUhwYmFZQVlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeAWvHOyy0YTPaRAw8-kq6k2x4Nt43Nq6e6WywhpZ0ZIYv9ND8G4oYpA83cus_aem_K5XovfkhGBv1mW8rcPgzYQ