Marthe Brendefur has always had a special relationship with her mother. When the 31-year-old recently set out on a 50-day expedition to the South Pole, she knew that her mother at home in Sunnmøre was seriously ill. The 56-year-old woman developed early-onset Alzheimer’s and a week and a half before departure she had a stroke. – The choice to travel is the heaviest I have ever made, says the 31-year-old, who is interested in the outdoors. But after both her mother and the rest of the family assured her that she should go, she packed her bag and left Sunnmøre to walk 1,000 kilometers across the ice island. Marthe Brendefur on her way to the South Pole. Photo: Antarctic Heritage Trust Hoped that they would meet again The optimistic 31-year-old hoped that her cheerful mother would survive the 50 days her daughter was on the trip. In order for her mother – in her own way – to be part of the spectacular trip, Marthe Brendefur packed a picture of her dear mother in her bag. Between winter clothing, provisions and emergency equipment, the picture was well packed in the heavy sled. – When you have lived close to someone who has a serious illness for a long time, there is one thing that is quite strong: and that is hope! I had an absolutely irrepressible hope that she would be there when I returned, she says. This is how many people remember Magnhild Fausa. She was a fun-loving lady, but lived to be only 56 years old. Photo: private Blei picked out from among hundreds Marthe Brendefur previously had eight years behind her in the defence. Now she works on a daily basis with computer security and mapping criminal threats online. When she read on news that five volunteers could join the South Pole, she threw herself around and was chosen out of 350 applicants. Together with a Norwegian and three participants from New Zealand, they went south earlier in the autumn, in the footsteps of Roald Amundsen. After being transported from Punta Arenas in Chile to the Union Glacier base in Antarctica, the expedition itself started on the Ronne Ice Shelf, an enormous glacier in the deepest part of the Weddel Sea. They followed one of the classic routes into the ice-covered continent in a south-westerly direction. – You wouldn’t think that a little IT nerd from Norway would manage it, but when I managed it, I actually think most people can, she says. Fewer than 200 people worldwide have done the same before her. Here is Marthe Brendefur in Roald Amundsen’s office. Photo: Astrid Johanne Sørnes / news Getting worse and worse The 31-year-old has crossed both Finnmarksvidda, Hardangervidda and Greenland on skis before, and is used to being away from his family. Halfway through the trip, Marthe Brendefur was told that not everything was as it should be at home. While Brendefur fought against the cold and frost on the way to the South Pole, the mother became increasingly unwell. In recent days, the daughter had been in contact via satellite phone several times a day. – You are obviously very sorry. The day I learned that the end is near, I navigated a session. I drove them through a slalom track, she says of the group of five who took turns finding the way through the ice island. At home in Norway, the mother breathed her last with the family around her on 13 December 2022. There were many overnight stays in the cold. Photo: Antarctic Heritage Trust Arrived at the funeral Marthe Brendefur landed at the airport at Ålesund only a few hours before the funeral. To those who wonder how she could carry out such a trip when her mother was ill, she says that it is difficult to wait for a perfect time. She believes that you never know what life has to offer, and perhaps you should take the chance when it is there. She is sure that her mother agreed with the decision. – I hope she would be proud of me. I think so. I think that if she could, she would join, she too, says the 31-year-old. On a trip to the South Pole, she made this heart of snow and ice to remember her mother. Photo: Antarctic Heritage Trust
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Marthe Brendefur (31) received the news of her death on the way to the South Pole – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
