Prince Harry tries on a harness for pulling a sled in London on Friday, while visiting with wounded ex-servicemen who are planning a trip to the North Pole. (Suzanne Plunket/Associated Press)Prince Harry says he hopes to join disabled soldiers trekking to the North Pole to raise money for wounded troops.
The 25-year-old prince, who is patron of the four-week charity trek, launched Walking with the Wounded on Friday in London.
The participants — ex-soldiers who lost their limbs while serving — aim to cover about 485 kilometres next spring, travelling across the frozen Arctic Ocean on the Siberian approach to the North Pole.
Harry, who served with the British army in Afghanistan, has been trying to raise public awareness about disabled former soldiers. He fought alongside soldiers who are now coping with lost arms or legs.
He and his older brother, William, are helping to raise money for rehabilitation aimed at getting the wounded back into the workplace.
Walking for the Wounded hopes to become the first group of amputees to reach the North Pole. Harry said he would love to join the team for part of the route "if my military commitments allow me."
Harry is training to become a helicopter pilot with the Army Air Corps.
With files from Ann MacMillan and the Associated PressShare Tools
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