A SUFFOLK web specialist is supporting revered explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes in his quest to complete one of the last remaining polar challenges.

Woodbridge based Infotex are part of the team helping with The Coldest Journey on Earth, which is attempting to cross Antarctica in winter.

Sir Ranulph has now set off on the record-breaking expedition, which also aims to raise $10million for Seeing is Believing, a global charitable initiative to fight avoidable blindness. During their sea voyage, the team will undertake a number of scientific tasks to provide unique data on marine life, oceanography and meteorology and generate real-time educational content for schools throughout the Commonwealth.

Bosses at Infotex have taken on the role of digital marketing adviser to the Coldest Journey team and will play an active role over the next 18 months to continuously encourage online users to follow the expedition and help Seeing Is Believing achieve its fundraising target.

They are hoping to run a competition to encourage the people of Suffolk to engage with the challenge and are also planning to work with schools to help youngsters learn about the expedition and encompass opportunities around maths, geography, biology and physics.

Although they have already set off on their journey, Sir Ranulph and his six-member expedition team will not begin their six-month journey to reach the Ross Sea until March 21 next year. Their route from the Russian base of Novolazareskaya to Captain Scott’s base at McMurdo Sound – via the South Pole – will test the limits of human endurance. They will travel nearly 4,000 kilometres, mostly in complete darkness in temperatures as low as -90�C. Previously, the furthest any expedition has ever ventured into Antarctica during the winter is 60 miles.

Exclusive footage and up-to-the-minute news is now available via the Infotex blog at www.infotex.co.uk/library and on social networking website Twitter @infotexuk. More details can also be found at www.thecoldestjourney.org.