FIVE city employees are heading off to the Arctic Circle to face the ultimate three-day survival challenge – living and sleeping outside in temperatures as low as -25C.

The team, who work at EDF Energy's Gadeon House office on Exeter Business Park, are usually more concerned with keeping their customers warm.

Polly Shepherd 36, David Cook, 36, Molly Board, 23, Craig McBain, 34, and Nikki Terry, 38, will fly to northern Sweden on February 17 to take part in the charity challenge.

They will test their physical and mental skills in sub-zero temperatures.

Guided by outdoor learning company Intrepid Expeditions, the team will live and sleep outside, build shelters from snow and foliage, source and chop firewood and melt snow for water.

Ahead of the expedition, the group has been raising money for EDF Energy's charity partner the British Paralympic Association (BPA). The BPA is the charity responsible for sending the ParalympicsGB team to every summer and winter Paralympic Games and supporting disability sports at grassroots.

As well as sponsorship from friends and family, several members of the team have carried out a variety of fundraising events.

Molly, an account administrator from Pinhoe, completed a sponsored 'Channel' swim at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Exeter. She swam 22.5 miles – the distance between Dover and Calais – in 14 hours and four minutes and raised almost £1,000.

Craig, a revenue management assistant from Exmouth, organised two bric-a-brac sales at EDF Energy's Gadeon House office and asked colleagues to bring in any unwanted items from home, to sell on for charity. He also arranged a quiz night, with a raffle and a silent auction.

Polly, a reward consultant from Cowley, has organised a variety of fundraising events in Exeter; a Virgin Vie pamper evening at Starz Bar, a live band night with a raffle and a silent auction at City Gate Cellar Bar and a charity car wash at Darts Farm, raising more than £2,300.

She said: "We are all really excited about heading to Sweden and taking part in an event that will undoubtedly challenge us both mentally and physically. I'm really looking forward to the survival challenges, like building snow-holes for shelter, although it's difficult to imagine sleeping in such cold temperatures."

The group in total expects to raise around £10,000 for the British Paralympic Association, which will be matched pound for pound by EDF Energy, the official electricity supplier for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Steve Hayfield, EDF Energy's customer services director, said: "We are really proud to support the group taking part in the Arctic Survival Challenge and wish them the best of luck in their frosty adventure."