While most brokers are worrying about swap rates and pipeline conversions, Liddle Perrett founder David Liddle is worrying about frostbite.
The London-based mortgage boss is currently somewhere in the Norwegian Arctic, hauling a sled across frozen wilderness in temperatures heading for minus 20, as part of a six-day endurance challenge raising money for children’s charities.
The expedition – known as Pulk and Peak: Cold Frontier 2026 – sees a team of 10 adventurers skiing across remote Nordic terrain, dragging heavy equipment behind them and sleeping in tents in full Arctic winter conditions. No hotel upgrades. No hot showers. No early finishes.
Picture credit: David Liddle
The goal is to raise funds for Fatima’s UK Campaign and The SpeedoMick Foundation, both of which support disadvantaged children and young people across the UK, with all proceeds split equally between the two charities.
SNOWBOUND WILDNERNESS
The journey began on Monday 2 February, with the team travelling from Oslo to the isolated mountain settlement of Finse before setting off across the snowbound wilderness – a route better known to polar explorers than mortgage brokers.
Liddle (main picture, inset), who is leading the expedition, said the challenge was designed to be deliberately uncomfortable.
“We’re deliberately placing ourselves in an extreme environment to highlight the very real hardships faced by young people who grow up without stability, security or support. This challenge is about teamwork, resilience and compassion.”
ECLECTIC LINE-UP
The expedition has drawn together an eclectic line-up of former Olympians, endurance athletes, property professionals and expedition guides – a reminder that the mortgage and property world is rarely short of characters willing to take things to extremes.
Among those battling the Arctic conditions are former Olympic javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread MBE and endurance athlete Mick Cullen BEM, both founders of the charities the team is supporting.
Whitbread said: “This challenge reflects the everyday determination shown by young people in the care system across the UK – turning commitment, step by step, into lasting change.”
Cullen added: “Having a difficult childhood does not have to define your future. This expedition sends a powerful message that with support, belief and determination, young lives can be transformed.”
The full team includes mortgage brokers, property developers, Ironman athletes, expedition guides and even a former British Olympic ice skater – proving that while the mortgage market may be tough, some people prefer their challenges with skis, sleds and sub-zero temperatures.
For Liddle, it’s a long way from a client meeting – but a reminder that resilience, grit and teamwork matter just as much outside the office as they do inside it.
HOWLING WIND
Picture credit: David Liddle
Taking to Facebook 36 hours ago he said: “You know it’s cold when your breath condenses on the tent and then snows on you! -30°C 🥶 with wind chill and a severe weather warning!
“Currently holed up in a Hilleberg on a frozen lake in howling wind. The #Skillsforlife are definitely coming out in abundance – can not think of a time I’ve been more grateful to have an another adventure driven Scout leader as a tent buddy @will.akhurst!
“It’s staggering the positive difference that experience makes on our ability to deal with even the very basics in an environment like this.”
THE FULL TEAM
- David Liddle – Team lead, mortgage broker, scout leadership volunteer
- Fatima Whitbread MBE – Former Olympian, charity founder, campaigner
- Jamie Annetts – Extreme expeditions guide
- Luke Jellicoe – Property professional, endurance cyclist
- Mick Cullen BEM – Endurance athlete, charity founder
- Nicky Poi – Event curator, social media storyteller, former British ice skating Olympic squad member
- Paul Spackman – Extreme expeditions guide
- Sam Donaldson – Property developer, Ironman athlete
- Tanner H Hicks – Property developer, endurance runner
- Will Akhurst – Chief data strategy officer, endurance hiker, scout leadership volunteer
