Land Rover’s 2012 ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary has been awarded to ‘Pushing The Limits,’ a team supporting a disabled adventurer’s plans to encourage our understanding of the geography on our doorstep and to show that exploration is within everyone’s reach, whatever their ability.
For Andy Campbell, disabled adventurer and team leader, getting off the beaten track – whether by kayak, sitski, paragliding, hand-cycling or driving – has become more of a challenge than for most. “Life’s an adventure that needs to be explored, being in a wheelchair just means you have to be a bit more ingenious – and stubborn – to get where you want,” he said. “The Society and Land Rover have provided an excellent opportunity to reach places I could not otherwise get to before.”
The Land Rover’s ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary was first awarded in 2007, in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and is aimed at those who want to take a journey beyond their limits, for which a Land Rover is an integral part of the expedition. For 2012, the Bursary funding has awarded £30, 000 for the first time.
The team set off from the Society’s London headquarters today, heading to Dover for their crossing into France across Europe, in their specially-equipped Land Rover Defender 110. Much of the route will follow the River Danube from Ulm in Germany to the Black Sea, which they plan to reach at the start of September.
Sharing the journey from the field and interacting with their followers through a range of social media, the team will actively encourage suggestions for ‘detours’ to explore areas of particular geographical and interest, which have the potential to demonstrate the go-anywhere capabilities of the Defender 110.
Mark Cameron, Land Rover Global Brand Experience Director said; “Andy and the team really captured the spirit of the ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary and we are delighted to support their mission to encourage adventure and to really experience the landscape rather than to simply drive through it. “
“The Defender will help enable the team to experience places normally out of bounds to wheelchair users and hopefully inspire other people with disabilities to fulfil their enjoyment of outdoors pursuits.”
The ‘Pushing The Limits’ team wants to inspire others to get outdoors, enjoy the diversity of different landscapes and experience adventures. Even if the route isn’t certain, the sense of adventure most definitely is.
Paul Rose, the Society’s Vice President of Expeditions & Fieldwork, added; “The Land Rover ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary offers recipients an amazing opportunity to promote a wider understanding and enjoyment of people, places and environments. This team’s journey will help show that exploration is as much about a state of mind as it is a particular place.”
An overview of Land Rover’s ‘Go Beyond’ Bursary and ‘Pushing The Limits’ expedition is provided on Land Rover.com. Highlights will be shared on Land Rover-owned social platforms. In addition, “Pushing the Limits” will be providing full updates through its own social media channels, including Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Tumblr.