06/01/2026
On Sunday, Matthew Hollingham began his Arctic Circle to Africa journey in memory of his late fiance, Lovisa, by swimming more than 4km (2.4 miles) across the Arctic Circle in 39-degree water. The swim was split into two legs due to hypothermia risk. The song, 'White Cliffs of Dover,' and the chorus of the Pina Colada song, along with running through the alphabet listing boys names and girls names, kept his mind occupied. The "vast, imposing and snowy mountain range to the west" guided his navigation. Today begins 37 back-to-back marathons. Matthew is raising money for children's charities: the Centre County Youth Service Bureau and Save the Children International, as well as for the Be More Lovisa Graduate Student Endowed Scholarship in Physics in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State. You can follow his journey at The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and donate by visiting https://happyvalley.com/arctic-to-africa
A message from Matthew: "I am so unbelievably grateful for all the support. My parents and Lovisa’s parents flew/drove all the way to the middle of nowhere just to help me. Jack has been working like a dog, and my god, the messages I have received have been absolutely lovely, not to mention the donations. What a time to be alive!"
is cheering him on!
