Mayor's attendant swaps driving for mushing (From Stourbridge News)

Mayor's attendant swaps driving for mushing

1:00pm Friday 11th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

A DUDLEY man will be swapping driving the Mayor around for driving a team of six husky dogs as he takes part in an arctic challenge of a lifetime.

Mike Crannage, who is one of the Mayor of Dudley's attendants, will be taking on the gruelling trek in northern Norway, in aid of the Mayor's charities.

The 51-year-old will be part of a group, but will have to care for, feed and lead his own team of six huskies through snowy wilderness in temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius.

During the seven-day trip in March next year, Mike will have to cover 40 kilometres a day to complete the 200 kilometre expedition.

And Mike will be showing there is snow one better to raise money for the Mayor's charities - Dudley Stroke Association, Dudley Mind and The Open Stage Learning Group, which is a charity helping people with learning disabilities perform on stage.

Mike, who has an army background, said: “It is going to be pretty tough, and you have to keep yourself fit because of the freezing conditions and the way you have to work the dogs.

“I am doing a lot of running and work in the gym, you have to have strength in your upper body to control the sled, because under no circumstance can you let go of it, as the dogs will run off and leave you in the middle of nowhere.

“I always do something for the Mayor’s charities every year. But this year they are all very local charities from Dudley, so I felt like I wanted to wanted to give them a bit more, so needed something a bit special.

“I thought about climbing Everest, but I couldn’t do it in time and also considered travelling to the North Pole, but you need to be more experienced than I was, so this is the next best thing.”

And Mike, who has never even had a pet dog before, said he was really looking forward to meeting the huskies.

Councillor Pat Martin, Mayor of Dudley, said: “I am delighted Mike has offered to help raise much needed funding for these very worthwhile charities.

“I wish him all the luck and hope people will take the time to spare what ever they can afford to sponsor him.”

To sponsor Mr Crannage call 07799 070079 or email mike.crannage@dudley.gov.uk Alternatively visit http://arctic-challenge.webeden.co.uk to sponsor him online.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)