An adventurer and RJ from Hyderabad, Prathyusha Parakala is all set to experience Antarctica. She has been selected to be part of the ClimateForce: Antarctica (CFA) expedition 2018 along with around 80 others from across the world. Not only is the 29-year-old the only one from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to be selected for this voyage, she will also be the only RJ to ever be a part of an Antarctic expedition. She will be joining the team lead by Robert Swan, one of the greatest explorers of all time, from the 2041 organisation, to raise awareness about climate change and work towards creating a more sustainable future. “I love travelling, trekking and cycling... I have always been an outdoor person. I have been to the Himalayas and Ladakh several times, but Antarctica will be the adventure of a lifetime. The expedition begins on February 26 and ends on March 12. Almost a decade ago, I had attended a leadership summit by Robert Swan and got to know about the expedition. I am excited that I will finally be a part of it. It was a lengthy process to apply and I had to crack interviews,” she says.
Prathyusha practices yoga every day. According to her, one cannot achieve the desired fitness level for such expeditions overnight. “You cannot go to the gym or take special training. Fitness has to be a part of your life,” she says. Prathyusha is currently raising funds for the expedition too. “Each of us will need almost Rs 17 lakh for the expedition, which also includes the extreme weather gear. I hope the government also comes to my aid. For the trip, I will be taking a flight to Argentina and will then be reaching Ushuaia, the tip of the country. The expedition will start from there. We will be taught the dos and don’ts as we won’t get much help once we are on the ship,” she reveals.
Prathyusha is excited that she will be trained by Robert Swan, someone who inspired her to take up the expedition. “This week, he is on an expedition to the South Pole with his son Barney, where the two are solely depending on renewable energy. This is happening for the first time in history. I am glad that he will be the one training us after he is back. He will have so much more to share! Climate change is a serious problem and we all should take action now,” she says, adding that her friends, colleagues and family are also excited about her Antarctic expedition.
