Under perfect Antarctic conditions, Iain Buchan (75), the founder of The Unlimited, his daughter Wallis Watt, chairwoman of The Unlimited, and son-in-law Ken Watt completed one of the world’s most extreme sporting challenges on the 13th of December 2024. The trio conquered the Antarctic Ice Marathon, pushing their limits to raise awareness for Early Childhood Development (ECD).
The family faced temperatures of -10°C and ran on challenging terrain, which Wallis described as “very energy-sapping due to the give in the snow.” Despite these harsh conditions, they demonstrated remarkable resilience, completing four loops on a 10.5km track alongside 62 marathon runners from around the world.“The conditions were perfect – a light breeze and clear sunny skies,” says Wallis, who achieved an impressive fourth place in the women’s category. “The sun is incredibly powerful there, and we had to take precautions against both sunburn and frostbite at the same time, so we covered all exposed skin, including our faces.”
The marathon featured aid stations at the start and halfway mark of the track, providing essential rest points where runners could briefly remove their face coverings and gloves to refuel and hydrate with warm water before continuing. In the pristine Antarctic environment, the runners found motivation in the natural beauty surrounding them. “There was so little to distract us, so we focused on small things like the glittering snow and the million shades of blue in the sky,” Wallis recalls.
The family’s finish was particularly memorable, as they coincidentally completed their final laps together. “My dad was finishing his third lap at the same time that Ken and I came through the finish,” Wallis explains. “Ken grabbed the South African flag, and we ran through the finish together. Because the event was so small, they put up a finishing banner for everyone to run through at the end. It was really special.”
This extraordinary achievement follows the family’s history of taking on extreme challenges – from conquering mountains to trekking across the South Pole – all in support of The Unlimited Child’s mission. To date, this non-profit organisation has already impacted over 2 million children across Southern Africa and Yemen, training more than 12,000 practitioners and empowering nearly 6,000 Early Childhood Development centres.
“Running a marathon in Antarctica might sound crazy, but it’s not so different from what we do at The Unlimited Child. Just as we spent months getting our minds and bodies ready for the icy challenge ahead, The Unlimited Child works with amazing gogos (grannies) and caregivers who pour their hearts into becoming skilled ECD practitioners for our littlest ones. Just as we couldn’t have faced those harsh Antarctic conditions without the right gear and support, these incredible women need proper training and tools to work their magic. When they’re equipped with what they need, they’re able to create beautiful safe spaces where children can grow and learn, even in the toughest conditions. I’ve seen it firsthand – both on the ice and in our ECD Centres – when you give people the right support and believe in them, they can achieve things they never thought possible.”
As Iain, Wallis, and Ken reflect on their journey across the icy wilderness, their message is clear: Every step counts. Every child matters. Together, we can ensure no child is left behind.
For as little as R25 per month, a child can receive a year’s worth of quality early education, unlocking their potential to thrive. To support this life-changing initiative or to find out more, visit: [https://theunlimitedchild.org/donate/](https://theunlimitedchild.org/donate/)
