In the beginning of August Josh Stinton will find himself in the Norwegian arctic at a time of year when the sun won't set.
He is going to participate the Offroad Finnmark 700 which is 'it is the worlds biggest single stage mountain bike race that you can do' he says
The 24 hours sunlight will be a good thing as the 700 kilometer race will be in one stage, meaning the time will tick until he passes the finish line.
So if he and his team chooses to, or need to, rest or sleep, the time will continue to tick.
This is one of the things that makes the race among the toughest in the world.
The Charity Adventurer
In line with how he approaches his adventures Josh hasn't raced mountain bikes before, although he has trained a lot during the last year.
So under ordinary circumstances his application for participation in Offroad Finnmark would have been rejected, but he tells us 'The team at Offroad Finnmark realised that we're doing this for a small charity and they let me onto the competition despite the fact that I have never ever actually raced a mountain bike race in my entire life.'
In his previous adventures Josh has brought awareness to and fund-raised for small charities.
Like on the first day skiing on snow he participated in the legendary 90 kilometer Vasaloppet in Sweden and raised awareness and much needed funds for the Australian charity Feel The Magic.
Josh on participating in Vasaloppet
Is doing Vasaloppet his first time on skis
He supported the work of Milk Crate Theatre whilst participating in the World Championship in downhill unicycling in Spain.
Mange Bekker Små
The saying goes 'Many Small Streams makes a big river', and Mange Bekker Små is a Norwegian charity Josh is supporting with his participation in Offroad Finnmark.
Mange Bekker Små works with Syrian refugees and the locals in Lebanon, but providing toys, clothes and much needed equipment.
In addition to his fundraising efforts Josh assembled a documentary filmmakinng team to raise awarness about the issue and the work of Mange Bekker Små.
The making of the documentary recently brought Josh to Lebanon to meet refugees in the camps in Lebanon and participate in distribution on behalf of Mange Bekker Små.
About his experiences in Lebanon Josh says 'The families I met, the children I met taught me so much about the human spirit and human resilience in a degree that I never ever seen in my life before.'
He continues 'Rather than me just feeling that I am doing a lot of work to help the charity which helps the people I can honestly say I left Lebanon with those people helping me out in a pretty big way as well.'
Based upon these and other meetings with beneficiaries of his adventures he feels the way he chose to live his life as a Charity Adventurer supporting small charities is the right way.
World Championship in Hide and Seek
Although his main force behind completing and keep going in all this hard challenges is the knowledge that he is making a difference, he also has time for some fun.
So the next adventure when Josh has finished Offroad Finnmark is leading the Australian team in the World Championship in Hide and Seek in Consonno in Northern Italy in early September 2017.
He tells us that he is currently seeking team mates for the championship, and that people can apply by submitting a video showing their best hiding technique.
He has already picked one team member, so at the time of writing there are only three spots left.
In line with Josh approach to his adventures he requires his team members to commit to raise funds for a charity of their own choosing.
But before he is going hiding in Italy he will be on his mountain bike in the Norwegian arctic, and before he left he told us what would keep him going 'There is a how and a why, and I know how to go.. keep pedalling but It's the why that is going to keep me going'
Josh On completing vasaloppet
Vasaloppet was totally worth it.
Jonathan on climbing kilimajaro as a porter
'First white guy' to climb Mt Kilimanjaro as a porter says it was all about respect
Josh experiencing Norwegian easter at SBS Radio
A taste of Norwegian easter tradtions in SBS Norwegian's studio
Josh Stinton visiting SBS Norwegian to tell about his next adventure, in Norway. Source: SBS Norwegian - Frank Mathisen
