Wainwrights Chemist superintendent Dajani said supporting Wylie in his ‘Antarctic Odyssey’ was a great opportunity to take up as an official sponsor for the expedition. 

“I’ve known Jordan for quite a few years now,” Dajani told C+D. “He’s a real-life adventurer, real-life James Bond. He’s raised money all over the place.” 

Wylie is a former soldier turned adventurer, known from appearances on Channel 4’s Hunted and Celebrity Hunted TV shows as well as his book Citadel about his story protecting a ship from Somali pirates. 

Read more: Life on ‘White Mars’: Is there pharmacy in Antarctica? 

Dajani gave him the “once over” in his pre-expedition clinical on October 28, which included a blood screening to test blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. 

“He talked about going to the coldest, remotest, windiest place on Earth and climb a pristine summit. He’s ex-commando, so if anybody can do something like that, it’s him,” Dajani said. 

Extreme conditions 

For the ‘Antarctic Odyssey’, he aims to raise £100,000 for the Army Cadet Charitable Trust as he has been one of the Army Cadet’s national ambassadors since 2018. 

He’s raised £43,594.83 so far. 

Wylie told C+D he is “delighted” that Hampshire’s Wainwrights Chemist is supporting him and it’s “incredibly special to have the backing of someone who truly embodies community spirit and making a difference in the world”. 

He added he’s raising money for the Army Cadets to be “a positive role model” and “ensure that future generations continue to benefit from the same incredible experiences, values, and sense of purpose that the Army Cadets provide”. 

Read more: Pharmacist becomes freeman of London  

Wylie’s expedition is scheduled to begin around November 20 depending on the weather conditions and said he’s got his “fingers crossed I’m having my Christmas dinner with the family on December 25” as he aims to complete the challenge in a month. 

He will start at the Union Glacier Base camp skiing with all his equipment to the Heritage Range in the Ellsworth Mountains before climbing one of the summits. 

He’s looking forward to the “simplicity and calmness of being somewhere so remote and completely disconnected” but said the cold will be “extreme and relentless”.  

Read more: Pharmacist hosting music festival for charity 

“Last night, it was –44°C, and with the wind chill it dropped to around –61°C — conditions that really test both your physical limits and your mental resilience.” 

As an adventurer, he has fundraised over one million pounds for charitable causes and has seen him awarded an MBE in 2023 for voluntary services to charity and children’s education. 

It comes as C+D revealed in January how pharmacy is conducted in Antarctica. 

And last September, Dajani was awarded the ‘Freedom of the City of London for his services to pharmacy throughout his distinguished career in community pharmacy.