A group of Luxembourg residents - Raphael Fiegen, Romain Fiegen, Bert Poffé, Romain Gierenz and Alex Gierenz - have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo concerning the making of a documentary film about a 500km sled dog expedition in Swedish Lapland about Raphael Fiegen.

The documentary film project is entited “On 40 Paws” and features 28 year-old Raphael Fiegen from Esch-Alzette who departs on 22 February 2016 to begin his journey through Lapland together with rewilding coach Bert Poffé, filmmaker Romain Gierenz and his 10 sled dogs in the Swedish province of Hemavan, arriving approximately 3 weeks later and 500km away in the remote Abisko. The film is produced by Alex Gierenz with Romain Fiegen handling the press relations.

Raphael Fiegen has devoted himself to working with sled dogs for over 10 years, and has already conducted several expeditions.

For details of the crowdfunding campaign (€8,000 target), see http://igg.me/at/op40Patten. In return for financial support, donors will receive various goodies such as a dog sledge ride in Esch-Alzette, invitations to the film's premiere, a rally through nature for children, and the soundtrack to the film as downloadable files.

The documentary does not only deal with the expedition itself, but shall make people aware of other issues involved, and inform them about the following issues:

•climate change: Does Raphael notice any changes in nature, the animals, etc., compared with his previous expeditions?

•What does he want to teach the consumer society in which we live? Are there alternative lifestyles that he would like to share with us?

•Why does Greenpeace support his expeditions?

•What valuable insights can the rewilding coach Bert Poffé gain from this documentary?

Risks & Dangers

Expeditions are always linked to certain risks. In order to avoid getting into danger, every adventurer should know the possible risks, and take precaution. So what can happen on an expedition like this?

• Snowstorms are not rare, and in such a case Raphael and his team are not able to go on. The tent has to be pitched in a safer zone.

• Attacks by wild animals, especially elks with calves. The adult animals can be unpredictable if their territory is invaded.

• Snow blindness. It is indispensable to wear special sunglasses.

• Death from cold. In Lapland temperatures can go down to -30°C. The average temperature in February is about -11°C.

• Climate change: Since the expedition lead over frozen rivers for several days, the temperatures must not be too warm for the season. In this case, the expedition has to be canceled.

How is the money used?

In order to produce a professional film, one needs the knowhow and the right equipment. Film-maker Romain Gierenz will work on the project for around 3 months, and will produce it. The main expenses are: research; travel and accommodation expenses; camera, sound and lighting equipment; special equipment needed in the cold provinces of Lapland; fee for planning, film shooting, cutting and scoring.