The Shackleton Foundation: everyone has an Antarctic

03.06.2009 \ I don't know, I just go and see, Journal

The Shackleton Foundation is a new charitable trust. Sir Ernest Shackleton is widely known as one of the most inspirational leaders of the twentieth century.

Whilst he never achieved his personal dream of being the first to reach the South Pole, his reputation as a leader of men is based on a still greater success: the survival and safe return of all of his team members, whilst overcoming almost unimaginable odds. Shackleton’s name lives on as a synonym for courage, bravery and most of all, leadership.

Shackleton’s era of heroic exploration is now long gone. However, The Shackleton Foundation believes innumerable and significant challenges still exist where the rallying power and indomitable spirit of Shackleton is needed, in order to make a tangible contribution to the greater good.

Thomas Pynchon wrote “Everyone has an Antarctic”. The Foundation exists to support and encourage people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to identify and cross their own Antarctic, particularly where the applicant’s chosen project can be shown to directly benefit the less advantaged. Whilst we support projects within and outside the physical arena, it is evidence of Shackleton’s spirit that we seek.

The Foundation believes that singular people making singular contributions to the public good can act as beacons of inspiration, and we wish to support them in their endeavours.

The Foundation hopes that beneficiaries will develop or possess the personal qualities that define leadership: a fierce personal commitment to succeed, a willingness to take intelligent risks, and the ability to inspire and energise those around them to do their utmost towards worthwhile causes.

For more information about the Shackleton Foundation, please go to the website www.shackletonfoundation.org

ABOUT ERNEST HENRY SHACKLETON

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO OBE (15 February 1874 - 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer. Born in Kilkea, Ireland, Shackleton embarked on four Antarctic expeditions and was knighted for travelling the furthest south of any contemporary human on his voyage aboard Nimrod. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Parliament of the United Kingdom and was involved in business ventures aimed at raising revenue for his polar explorations.

Shackleton is most noteworthy for leading the unsuccessful Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, colloquially known as the “Endurance Expedition” or “Shackleton’s Voyage”, between 1914 and 1916. Although Shackleton failed to achieve his goal of crossing the Antarctic continent on foot, he demonstrated the leadership for which he is now known when the ship Endurance became trapped in the ice and was destroyed.

Shackleton, known by his contemporaries as “the Boss”, led his men to refuge on Elephant Island before heading across 1,287 kilometres (800 mi) of the open Antarctic Ocean to South Georgia Island with five other men. Upon reaching the remote island, Shackleton crossed severe, mountainous terrain to reach a whaling station from where he was able to muster a ship, eventually to rescue his men on Elephant Island.

All the men on Endurancee survived their ordeal after spending 22 months in the Antarctic, although three men of the Ross Sea Party lost their lives.

Shackleton was a key figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration alongside Roald Amundsen, Douglas Mawson, and Robert Falcon Scott, each of whom is famed for exploits that captured the public imagination. In recent times, he has become known for his leadership skills, and is the topic of many books and films that focus on the explorer’s ability to lead men through challenging conditions.

We were the fools who could not rest
In the dull earth we left behind
But burned with passion for the South
And drank strange frenzy from its wind
The world where wise men sit at ease
Fades from our unregretful eyes
And thus across unchartered seas
We stagger on our enterprise

EH Shackleton (July 1916)