Leamington woman’s Arctic mission continues

And to top it all off, Leamington fitness instructor Leila Javadi-Babreh, who has returned from a seventh-month endurance trip in North America and the Arctic, has raised £310 for the National Autistic Society in support of her autistic sister and brother.

Leila, who had already completed 200 and 300-mile races in the region during the previous winter, is intent on completing solo the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest across the Arctic desert. While she was unable to enter the 2012/2013 winter event, the 26-year-old did come fifth in a 200-mile race and was selected for the Yukon Quest vet award for the care of her dog team.

She also proved that she can endure the minus 50 degree temperatures, blizzards, confrontations with bears, moose, wolves and cougars and manage and travel with and look after some 14 dogs on her own.

Leila, who works at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre, runs her own boot camp business in Leamington and is an amateur artist, partly funded her adventures through donations - but she sent any extra funds to her chosen charity.

She said: “Thank you to all the local people for their support, donations and encouragement.

“Unfortunately I could not raise the Quest this time. But as my godmother says, ‘shoot for the moon, because if you miss you will still land between the stars’.

“My artwork has been accepted for the 2014 International poster and we have helped raise money and awareness of the National Autistic Society - so all in all, a fantastic result.”

To see Leila’s artwork, visit www.leilajavadi-babreh.com and for details on her boot camp, visit www.openair-fitness.co.uk

The Yukon Quest 1,000-mile race

the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race takes place every february between Whitehorse, Yukon, and Fairbanks, Alaska.

The race starts on schedule regardless of weather and lasts from ten to 16 days until the final dog team arrives at the finish line. To compete, mushers must be 18 or over and have successfully completed a 200-mile and a 300-mile sled dog race. www.yukonquest.com