Jake Speed (and the Jake Speed Fund)

Jake was interviewed in August by the folks from the TVNZ program "Closeup." This is a "60 Minutes" style news show, and I was consulted by one of the producers. The interview aired 10 August and the archive is available from the program web site (note that the video player worked for me but hasn't worked for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere...if you have trouble, the alternate player, either Flash or Windows Media Player, from the video screen. Or try another computer.)

Look ma, no hands!

---

Above, here he is back in mid June with one of his new bionic attachments. Like a Swiss Army knife...lots
of tools. After getting out of the hospital he has been staying near his California home and getting acquain-
ted with the new toys. The above photos are credited to Kathy Blumm.


Just a few friends of Jake...the IceCube folks in Madison

As you can see from the photos at the top of the page, things are going well. To date we've raised about $36,000! Amazing! But help is still needed. And I've got TWO pages of photos of Jake that have been contributed from here and there. Start here.

There are a couple of payment options, email me for details. As for the story...the headline perhaps could have read "Man Lost in Whiteout Survives 58-Hour Ordeal in Sub-Zero Temps." It is an amazing saga.

Although he managed to walk out on his own two feet, there was extensive nerve damage. Jake was transported to Nuuk, Greenland for preliminary examination. He was then flown to the UC Davis hospital burn unit in Sacremento for extensive evaluation and treatment. After multiple surguries, and attempts to partially save his original feet, he has now undergone full amputation of his right hand and both feet. He is currently undergoing an abdominal flap procedure to save full use of the left hand.

Jake Speed (Joseph Gibbons) started with the U. S. Antarctic Program in 1999 as a UT (left, photo from CH; right, DH)...starting the first of five consecutive winters at Pole, from 2000 to 2004. He began seasonal work in Greenland in 2004, while still returning to Pole during austral summers as an equipment operator. He set a record for consecutive winters at the South Pole at 5. Jake is very good at his work, and has said, "When I'm on, I'm on, and when I'm off, I just want to chill on the beach and hang with my friends and family."

Jake was married in 2007 to Kathy Blumm, They'd met at Pole during the 2004 winter and have done several deployments to Greenland together. Kathy was in New York State, preparing for the trip to Greenland, when Jake was medevaced out.... Jake has done extensive traveling, and has done extensive walking on those travels. His wife Kathy stated, "His feet have taken him a long long way over the years; walking the Pacific Crest Trail, across China, Africa and wherever the hell else. The Poles. So, he has maybe gone beyond warrantable miles anyway. Time for something new. As we go into this next phase, I want to take a second here to say thanks. Thanks to all the folks that have been there for us in so many ways and on so many levels. It has been amazing. The flood of mail has been so heartwarming and the donations to the ice fund have blown us away. Thank you."

Jake in Greenland, relaxing on top of a HUGE pile of nets on a Nansen sled after a long day of packing up camp near the end of the summer season (BJ)

The photo credits and acknowledgements are on the last photo page...lots of photos start here!

Other public information sources include the National Science Foundation press release, and for now, the interview Jake gave to the Christchurch Press.