Charity trek reaches Pole

In everyday life they are accountants, property managers, teachers and advertising executives.

But for the last few weeks, 16 threestrong teams have been trekking across the Arctic to raise money to open a cancer respite centre in London.

The teams braved temperatures of minus 50C and white-out snowstorms and saw off polar bears when they took up the Polar Challenge 2005.

They raced 320 gruelling miles to the North Pole on cross-country skis, dragging sledges behind them.

The winning team, hardware.com, reached the pole in a record-breaking nine days. A trio of staff members from the Evening Standard - Tim Smith, Anton Lewis and Tavienne Kelly - arrived a respectable 10th after 16 days. They raised £10,000 for the Maggie's Centres charity.

In an email home, Tavienne said: "We can't believe that we have done it. It's been a tough but amazing experience."

To make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/polarchallenge or www.maggiescentres.org