Town supporter Richard Smith has helped his friend Alan Lock to become the first visually impaired person to walk from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole after they completed their Polar Vision challenge. The duo, along with Andrew Jensen, made the 530-mile journey in 39 days.

Richard, who promised TWTD that he would have a photograph taken in a Town shirt at the Pole, says he's delighted to make it: “We finally reached the South Pole after 39 days.

"It is fair to say the team are excited, elated and exhilarated but also exhausted. The weather has been very kind to us today; it’s been beautiful to come into the South Pole.

“We have to take the photographs to capture this moment then off to have a cup of tea and a nice warm meal. It’s a fantastic day for the team and everyone is delighted and really excited.”

Prior to leaving, Richard, who is from Milton Keynes but is currently living in Boston in the US, told TWTD about their epic journey: “I set up Polar Vision with Alan, who suffers from Macular Degeneration, a disease which started to rapidly degrade his vision when he was only in his mid-twenties.

“At the time Alan was an officer in the Royal Navy but despite this setback he has completed a number of achievements, most notably running the Marathon des Sables, setting a world record for rowing across the Atlantic and completing his MBA at UC Berkeley Haas.”

Richard at the Pole

Richard, whose family originally hail from Felixstowe, said the aim of the three-man expedition was to show that visual impairment doesn’t prevent people from achieving remarkable feats: “We are firstly trying to tell a good news story — the tagline of our expedition is ‘Seeing beyond limits’, which is something that I think most people can relate to.

“For those who are visually impaired, especially when this afflicts them in the prime of their life, it can seem as if so much of life is taken away from them. Alan’s story proves otherwise.”

Polar Vision is also raising money for charities Sightsavers International and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Donations can be made here. The expedition’s Facebook page can be found here.

Blues chief executive Simon Clegg sent Town's good wishes: "Congratulations on behalf of everyone at Ipswich Town Football Club on your outstanding achievement.

"Richard — we look forward to welcoming you to Portman Road before you return to the US."

Photo: Action Images

footballfriend added 15:59 - Jan 4 congratulations gents!
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Hermann_eats_puffin added 16:01 - Jan 4 Congratulations to Richard because this is a fantastic achievment! Also it's the first story on here for some time to actually put a smile on my face and it's a nice distraction from all the bad news/ doom & gloom that we as Town fans have to face on a daily basis at the moment.
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Warkys_Tash added 16:09 - Jan 4 Congratulations Gents. Maybe you should have taken Jewell & Cleggy with you!!
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BillyBaxsterBest added 16:17 - Jan 4 Well done Richard! great to know that someone is closer to the bottom than town are. hopefully as you move up the globe town will follow suit up the league. We are behind you Jewell good luck.
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wiggy71 added 16:36 - Jan 4 amazing what some people will do to get away from this season ...... well done lads i wouldn't do it
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casanovacrow added 17:05 - Jan 4 Sign him up
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Dissboyitfc added 18:20 - Jan 4 true courage, well done guys....COYB
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ShefTractor added 18:24 - Jan 4 Incredible. Great work.
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Back_The_Boss added 18:29 - Jan 4 Fantastic effort, great achievement.
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s6blue added 19:08 - Jan 4 well done lads
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JewellintheTown added 19:17 - Jan 4 Good lads, well done, cheers all round. Maybe when you get back, you can give our beloved team a pep talk on how to put some decent effort in under difficult circumstances.
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Mungo added 19:20 - Jan 4 Good stuff lads. Well done
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petermorris added 20:09 - Jan 4 Aftet the Forest game I wanted to join them.
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TimmyH added 20:17 - Jan 4 Well done! to the ends of the earth to get away from Portman Road.
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tractorboy2434 added 21:09 - Jan 4 Well done, they are in the best place possible, as far away from PR as they can get, I think a nice winter holiday beckons followed by some non league footy and then it will be the cricket season, cannot come soon enough.
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Monkaz added 22:53 - Jan 4 This is great news guys, well done on your achievement
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Marcus added 07:00 - Jan 5 Congrats guys. Are penguins any good in defence?
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StortfordBlue added 08:47 - Jan 5 Congratulations gents!
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Wickets added 09:37 - Jan 5 Great stuff your in the best place the way we'ar playing!!
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MathieandMarshall added 12:21 - Jan 5 Great effort lads! hats off to you. lets get them out on the pitch before a home game when they get back and show the players how much can be achieved with hard work and dedication. This sort of thing puts a lot of us to shame. Well done.
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arc added 19:45 - Jan 15 There's a sign at the South Pole??? How disappointing.
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