Gerard Crowley (41) and Stephen Hazley (50) spoke to the Press before they set off on the challenge on 22nd February.

The directors of the UK’s largest independent corporate team building provider, are following in the footsteps of Prince Harry, who completed a similar challenge in the Antarctic with wounded soldiers.

The challenge is on behalf of Mums on the Run, a Dalgety Bay-based fund-raising team set up by Gerard’s wife Deborah following the death of a friend, Jennifer Gasowska, who died of cancer at the age of 35.

Read the duo's experiences of the Arctic so far: Our Arctic challenge begins!

We have arrived in Norway after three flights and 24 hours of travelling from Dunfermline to the small fishing port of Alta in Northern Norway.

When we stepped outdoors this morning we got our first taste of the cold, although at -8C we are being warned that -8C is nothing when compared to the overnight temperatures tonight which are expected to reach as low as -20C. Despite the nerves creeping in about the daunting task ahead, both Stephen and I managed to get a full eight hours sleep.

Following a very hearty breakfast, which is necessary, as we are expecting to burn up to 8,000 calories each day of our trek, we picked up our equipment and went through final training procedures of setting up a camp, something we will be doing daily, got our skis and bindings fitted and the toboggans aka ‘pulks’ that we’ll be pulling loaded with all our supplies. As wild animal attacks are a possibility we were also taken through rifle handling training.

Over lunch we had a final safety briefing and after double (and triple) checking all of the equipment, we took a 30 minute bus ride to the small hamlet of Stilla to officially begin our 120km journey. The leader has warned that daylight hours will be short so we will often be travelling by torch light, but both Stephen and I are looking forward for the chance to witness the spectacular displays of the Northern Lights. We have been told the first part of the journey to Camp 1 is expected to take us around six hours and follows an old partially marked postal trail. Once we arrive setting up the tents will be a priority closely followed by dinner.

We are both really looking forward to the challenge ahead, after months of 5am starts and daily gym sessions we are feeling prepared and keen to get started on our Arctic challenge.

-Gerard Crowley.

To donate text COLD84 with donation amount to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/arcticchallenge2015. For more information on Team Challenge Company visit the website www.teamchallenge-company.co.uk.