Join us on Wednesday the 7th June at The Oriel Hotel for a wonderful Spring Lunch with Maria Leijerstam, the first person to cycle to the South Pole.
Step in to Spring with fruity punch & canapés on arrival and a specially selected two course meal. Whilst indulging in brilliant food and conversation, the fantastic and inspiring Maria Leijerstam will be giving a talk about her adventures, including being the first person to cycle to the South Pole and balancing her ventures with motherhood.
This lunch with Maria Leijerstam is all in aid of St Kentigern Hospice, where we provide vital care to the most vulnerable in our community by delivering end of life and palliative care.
Maria Leijerstam, born in Aberdare in Wales, is a British polar adventurer who become the first person to cycle to
the South Pole from the edge of the continent in 2013.
On 27th December 2013, Maria Leijerstam became the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the continent. Leijerstam started her expedition on the Ross Ice Shelf at the edge of the Antarctic continent, and cycled the total distance of 638km (396 mi). She reached the South Pole faster than any previous skiing expedition, completing her journey in 10 days, 14 hours and 56 minutes.
Maria spent four years planning, training and preparing for this double world record. She pushed through extreme mental and physical barriers and built a winning team to achieve the unthinkable. In 2007, Maria was the first Welsh woman to complete the Marathon Des Sables, running six marathons in seven days across the Sahara desert.
In 2012 she was the first woman to complete the Siberian Black Ice Race, a 650 kilometre cycle across Lake Baikal. She also competed on the World Series Adventure Racing circuit, representing Great Britain. Her business life began in rocket science with BAE Systems.
She later moved on to project management where she worked for a variety of multinational organisations including Ford of Europe. In 2010, she combined her love of sport with her business acumen and set up Multisport Ltd, an adventure sports company based in Wales, UK. She now hosts the successful Burn Series adventure races with the aim of introducing sport as a way of life for all.
If you would like to book a ticket please contact our fundraising team at 01745 775415 or book online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lunch-with-maria-leijerstam-at-the-oriel-hotel-tickets
Please remember to let us know your dietary requirements on booking.
“As a mother to two little girls, my priorities may have changed but my desire for adventure and exploration stays with me. I run an adventure racing business for families and it makes me smile to see a family crossing my finish line with a huge sense of achievement.
I share my stories of extreme adventure, challenge and achievement during corporate conferences and after dinner functions and thoroughly enjoy eating good food whilst engaging in business conversation. I spent 10 years working as a Business Improvement & Strategy Director before my adventures took over.
Married, live between Stockholm, Sweden & Wales in the UK. Trying to learn to play the guitar without my husband having to leave the room.
The thing I want to do most now is to go on an adventure with my mother…. and hopefully in the future with my girls too.”
Maria Leijerstam