Explorers to reach South Pole with a nice cup of Tetley

LONDON – Tetley tea is to sponsor Simon Murray and Pen Hadow's unaided expedition to the South Pole, which will see 63-year-old businessman Murray become the oldest person to achieve the task.

The pair will set off in December on the 1,170km trek from Hercules Inlet on the continental edge of Antarctica to the geographic South Pole without any support.

If the task is completed, Murray will enter the record books. The aim is to raise money for the Royal Geographical Society's polar archives.

Tetley Tea is putting £100,000 behind the pair's expedition to tie in with its 'Ready, Tetley, Go' television and radio advertising drive through Leo Burnett. The campaign has also been backed up by direct marketing.

Tetley marketing manager Andrew Dobson said: "Our TV and radio advertising features people faced with daunting tasks who, once they've had a cup of Tetley, are ready for anything.

"We already have a strong direct marketing programme and will be looking to Simon and Pen to further encourage a dialogue with our mainstream consumers," Dobson added.

Tea is believed to be one of polar explorers' favourite refreshments as it is essential for hydration, as well as being warming, healthy, light to carry and easy to prepare.

Murray said: "Tetley tea will be the highlight of our day. We will each drink three cups first thing in the morning, followed by a litre in a flask during the day at hourly intervals, plus another cup in the evening.

"By the end of the expedition in early February, we will have drunk 156 litres of Tetley tea -- 1.2 litres each per day -- proving that it would be impossible to find a more appropriate sponsor."

This spring, veteran explorer Pen Hadow was the first person to trek solo without re-supply from the American continent to the geographic North Pole.

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