Christina Franco
Neways Polar Team
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| NATIONALITY: |
Italian |
| HOME: |
London, UK |
| AGE: |
38 |
| HEIGHT: |
168cm (5'6") |
| WEIGHT: |
56kg (123 lbs) |
| PROFESSION: |
Photographer and Trekking Guide |
| INTERESTS: |
Cooking, Travel, Art, Africa |
| PRIOR ARCTIC EXPERIENCE: |
Snowboarding in Lapland |
| PRIOR EXPEDITION EXPERIENCE: |
Marathon des Sables, Mt Kilimanjaro, Trekking in Bhutan, Scouting in Africa |
| PREVIOUS FURTHEST NORTH: |
The Bering Strait |
| PREVIOUS COLDEST PLACE: |
Downtown Nome, Alaska |
| REASON FOR ENTERING RACE: |
To sleep in one of the last remaining
wildernesses, and for the challenge of
pushing myself to an extreme |
BIOGRAPHY
I grew up between New York and Rome: inspired by these two worlds, I
now have a passion for food, art and travel. Growing up, my father
would return from the Orient with magical tales and my mother read
to me from the books of Shackleton and Burton. I was marched along
with my brother and sister up the pre-alpine hills of Piedmonte in
the summers, the berries we picked turned into the preserves that
made the winters pass with joy. It was inevitable that I would grow
up wanting to explore other lands and foods.
At NYU in the United States and later at Rhodes University in South
Africa I found two wonderful professors who helped me turn my
adventures into photographs. I have made London my home although I
leave it often to guide in Italy and photograph in Africa.
Going to the North Pole will be a celebration of all that is special
to me while providing a supreme challenge.
SPONSORS
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Neways
International (UK) Ltd, manufactures cutting-edge
nutritional supplements based on modern science, ancient
Chinese, Ayurverdic and Tibetan formulas, including powerful
antioxidants and effective products designed for the athlete
or enthusiastic sports person. Their varied range includes
superior toxin-free cosmetics, dental care and personal care
products.
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Conte
of Florence is an Italian sportswear company started
in 1952, which produces beautifully made sports clothing for
Skiing, Golf and Yachting.
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de Roemer
is a stunning new international fashion label
which designs ultra glamorous cashmere jumpers for men and
women, fine jewellery and handbags. The label is presently
stocked in Matches, Selfridges, Liberty, The Cross and other
designer boutiques in London, New York Los Angeles, Paris
and Spain.
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palmOne,
Inc. -- a leader in handheld computing and
communications solutions -- strives to put the power of
computing in people's hands so they can access and share
their most important information. The company's products
include ZireTM and
TungstenTM handhelds and
TreoTM smartphones, software and
accessories. palmOne products are sold through select
internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels
throughout the world, and on the palmOne Store
http://eurostore.palmOne.com.
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CHARITIES
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The
NSPCC's
purpose is to end cruelty to children. Its vision is of a
society where all children are loved, valued and able to
fulfil their potential. The NSPCC seeks to achieve cultural,
social and political change - influencing legislation, policy,
practice, attitudes and behaviours and delivering services for
the benefit of children and young people.
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Save the Rhino International
is committed to ensuring the survival of the rhinoceros
species in the wild. The charity works in close consultation
with managers and communities in wildlife areas and provides
direct support for rhino and community conservation projects
in Africa and Asia.
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The
Wilderness Trust
was established in 1974 by Sir Laurens van der Post, writer,
explorer and philosopher, and Dr Ian Player DMS, international
conservationist. The trust works closely with sister
organizations the Wilderness Foundation in South Africa, the
WILD Foundation in the USA and other groups in Europe and
Asia. Together share a common belief in the irreplaceable
value of wilderness, which contains the wonders of pristine
nature, and enables us to return to our origins and draw a
deep sense of belonging and inspiration.
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