A father-of-two has faced a volcanic eruption and a 鈥渉ectic鈥 schedule in his attempt to break a Guinness World Record by skiing in 30 countries in 28 days.
James Dick, 50, has tackled the slopes in 20 counties so far, including Germany, Italy, Norway and Iceland, hitting eight countries in the first three days of his challenge.
He is aiming to head to 10 more countries, including Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, before he completes his month-long venture in Inverness, Scotland, on January 28.
While his Guinness World Record attempt has yet to be made official, Mr Dick said he is hoping he has broken the current mark which sits at 17 countries in 21 days, as on Friday in Sweden he had skied in 19 countries in 12 days.
With the challenge, he is fundraising for two charities close to his heart, The National Brain Appeal and Saint Francis Hospice, raising more than 拢10,000 so far.
鈥淚 found out the current record was 17 (countries) in 21 days so I thought I鈥檇 give that a good go,鈥 Mr Dick, from Romford, east London, and currently living in Hong Kong, told the PA news agency.
The avid skier, who has been taking part in the sport since the age of five, said the challenge has been 鈥渉ectic鈥 and 鈥渟uper-tiring鈥.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been increasingly harder to reach each country because there鈥檚 been a lack of snow in some places, travel distances, you can鈥檛 drive through various countries,鈥 he said.
鈥淚鈥檝e now got to try and do 10 (countries) in 11 days 鈥 it鈥檚 a bit hectic and it鈥檚 exhausting looking at the plan I鈥檝e come up with but I think I can do it.鈥
Mr Dick says he now plans to base himself in Istanbul.
鈥淭hen Saturday I鈥檒l go from Istanbul to Inverness and ski Scotland on (January) 28 and then I鈥檒l be finished 鈥 so that should be 30 (countries) in 28 days.鈥
Mr Dick was in Iceland on Sunday at the time of the most recent volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavik in the south-west region of the country.
鈥淚 woke up to my friend going 鈥榞o, go, go鈥 as a volcano had erupted 27 clicks away.
鈥淭hat was insane, it was a bit surreal.
鈥淚 thought I鈥檇 better get out in case the winds changed and then I got stuck in Iceland and couldn鈥檛 complete the challenge 鈥 it was a bit crazy.鈥
鈥淚 turned 50 in November and I always wanted to do something for charity and these are two very close charities to my heart,鈥 he said.
鈥淭hey are probably two charities that don鈥檛 get a lot of awareness and press, so someone has to fight their corner.
鈥淚鈥檓 overjoyed it鈥檚 over 拢10,000.鈥
To find out more, visiting his JustGiving page here:
