WA Man to Ski Solo Across Frozen Greenland in Support of Suicide Prevention

Most Australians escape the cold. Marcus Arnold is heading straight into it — alone, on skis, with only a husky to warn him of polar bears.

In March 2026, Perth local Marcus Arnold will attempt a 30 day, 400km solo crossing around Greenland’s Milne Island. This will be alone and in sub-zero Arctic winter conditions. He’ll tow all his supplies, camp on sea ice in –35°C, and rely on a local husky for company and polar bear patrol.

He’s not a professional adventurer. He’s a full-time worker with a powerful reason for taking on this extreme challenge: to raise awareness and support for MATES in Construction, a suicide prevention charity supporting Australia’s construction industry.

“It may not seem obvious now. But like many men, I’ve fought my own mental health battles,” said Marcus. “This expedition is about showing that even in our darkest, coldest moments, we can find hope — especially when we reach out for help.”

"If you had asked me a few years ago if I thought I'd be doing something like this in a few years, I wouldn't have thought it was possible. If I can go from struggling to simply make it through each day to achieving this, my hope, is that I can show others that there is hope. Things do get better."

Marcus has completed MATES’ on-site training and credits it with giving him practical tools to better manage his own wellbeing. He now wants to give back — not by raising funds for himself — but for MATES and by shining a light on the mental health crisis facing construction workers.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian men aged 15–44, with construction workers twice as likely to take their own lives compared to other industries. Construction workers are nine times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work. Young construction workers are at the highest risk—suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 35.

“Marcus’s journey through the cold and isolation of Greenland is a powerful reflection of how mental health struggles can feel for many men — lonely, cold, harsh, and hard to talk about,” said Jørgen Gullestrup, National CEO of MATES in Construction. “By taking on this extreme challenge, Marcus is showing that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward — and support is always closer than we think.”

The Challenge at a Glance:

• First-ever solo winter circumnavigation of Milne Island, Greenland (Greenland’s third-largest island)
• March 2026
• 400 km of cross-country skiing in 30 days
• Arctic winter, –35°C, sea-ice camping, and wildlife risk (polar bears)
• To raise awareness for suicide prevention in the construction industry

Follow Marcus’s journey and preparation at: https://www.greenland-alone.org

Instagram updates via:.instagram.com/mja.explore

Gofundriase site https://greenlandalone.gofundraise.com.au/

All funds raised, and donations collected to support this activity will be donated to MATES in Construction Australia.

However, this activity (and any other like it) is not carried on or managed by MATES in Construction Australia and is independently conducted by the fundraiser.