Man to run from Arctic Circle to UK home

A man has said he is planning to run back to the UK from the Arctic Circle for charity.

Reuben Gallop, 24, will set off from Nordkapp in northern Norway - one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe.

His 2,500 miles (4,100 km) route will take him through Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France before he reaches home in Chichester, West Sussex.

He estimated that he will have to run on average a marathon every day for more than 85 days.

Gallop said that he was doing the challenge to raise funds for St Wilfrid's Hospice, which provided "phenomenal" end-of-life care to both his grandparents.

"I am really, really looking forward to it," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

He plans to run across the South Downs to finish outside the front door of the hospice.

Gallop said that the idea had "been in the works for a little while".

"I've always liked getting out and running far - maybe not this far - however, I thought let's take off a massive part of Europe and run point to point," he said.

But he added: "Mosquitoes are just going to be a nuisance up in rural Sweden and Norway. There are bears up there was well, but they are so rare.

"I should hopefully avoid those."

Gallop said that it was tricky knowing what to pack as the temperatures were "quite volatile up there at the moment".

He called the weather the most annoying factor, however he said he was "so excited to get out in the Scandinavian countryside".

"I've never been [there before]," he added.

"As someone who likes the outdoors a lot, I think I will have a lot of time where I will be just trying to enjoy the scenery as much as I can."

He said that he will be supported by his father and sister, who will be in a camper van supporting him along the way.

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