Trekking 600 miles across Antarctica while pulling a 100-pound sled is a grueling endurance test for any adventurer, but for Berkeley MBA student Alan Lock there's an extra challenge: Lock has lost much of his vision to a degenerative eye condition, and hopes to become the first visually impaired person to cross Antarctica from the coast all the way to the South Pole. He will be joined by, among others, Richard Smith T'11, a friend pursuing his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Lock has organized a five-man team called Polar Vision. In the winter of 2011, the team will embark on an expedition to raise funds and awareness for sight charities operating in the United States and the developing world. The trek will tap the team's physical resources as well as their leadership and management skills gained in business school. The team includes Smith, Berkeley MBA student Andrew Jensen, outdoor adventurer and IMD MBA graduate Garrick Hileman, and former British Army Captain Andrew Cooney, the youngest person to reach the South Pole at age 23 in 2003.

In addition to the physical and technical planning, which started earlier this spring, Polar Vision’s goal is to raise $700,000 plus awareness for two charities: Sightsavers International in the U.K., which strives to end preventable blindness in the developing world, and Guide Dogs for the Blind, headquartered in San Rafael, CA. To be successful, the group must first raise about $470,000 to cover their costs, which will be used to cover logistics, communications equipment, and specialized clothing and equipment.

A British citizen, Smith left London and arrived at Tuck with a banking background, looking to stay in the U.S. for a career in strategy consulting. A keen outdoor enthusiast, Smith explains, "I was attracted to Tuck because it was a top-tier school in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Perfect for cycling, running, and of course, skiing! All of which will be integral to the preparation for the Antarctic expedition." Smith co-founded the current incarnation of the Tuck Triathlon team during his first year at Tuck, and participated in the Timberman 70.3 Ironman event at Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.

The team plans to depart the U.S. in November 2011 and commence the expedition in December. They will walk 580 miles (934 km) across the ice at temperatures as low as minus 44 degrees Fahrenheit. They expect to arrive 40-50 days later—and 100 years after the first man to reach the South Pole. Each team member will pull a sled, known as a Pulk, weighing up to 100 pounds and loaded with their food and equipment.

"All of us have it in our DNA to challenge ourselves, particularly through physical and mental tests," says Lock of his team. "More than this, however, is the common bond to support each other in achieving a common dream we've had since childhood, and in doing so help a cause that is important to me."

Smith added, "One of the things business school instills in you is a sense of purpose, a mission—and the MBA gives you the leadership skills to deliver on that. We will need to draw on these skills not only to plan this expedition but to get ourselves and each other to the Pole. It won’t be easy but the personal and charitable rewards are great."

Polar Vision is seeking corporate sponsorship for value-added partnerships, including opportunities to be involved in the team, having a corporate flag planted at the pole, or product testing in the harshest environment on earth. The team is also in talks with several filmmakers regarding a potential documentary.

For more information contact Alan Lock at alan@polar-vision.org or Richard at richard@polar-vision.org.

Founded in 1900, Tuck is the first graduate school of management in the country and consistently ranks among the top business schools worldwide. Tuck remains distinctive among the world's great business schools by combining human scale with global reach, rigorous coursework with experiences requiring teamwork, and valued traditions with innovation.