Talk about being up the creek without a paddle.
John Hillis faced midges, fatigue and chaffing, not to mention over 150 miles of canoeing across Scotland, uphill.
But the intrepid Land Settlements Manager completed his coast to coast canoe challenge in eight days, raising over £2,000 for cancer sufferers.
John navigated his way from the Ardnamurchan peninsular on the west coast, to the mouth of the River Tay at Newburgh, Fife. He paddled through 152 miles of reservoirs and rivers passing several of our hydroelectric sites across the heart of Scotland.
For the trip John was partnered by his friend Oliver Hickman. They paddled up stream ascending over 1,135m with all their food and camping supplies onboard their canoe.
The pair’s epic journey started in Shielfoot on the Ardnamurchan peninsula and followed a coast to coast route from west to east.
They paddled through Loch Shiel, Loch Linnhe, Blackwater Reservoir, the River Gaur, Loch Rannoch, Loch Tummel, before finally using the River Tay to reach the east coast at Newburgh in Fife.
But the discomfort of mosquito bites and fatigue were all outweighed by the natural beauty they were able to take in as they traversed the breadth of Scotland.
And thanks to John and Oliver’s heroic efforts over £2,000 has been raised for Macmillan Cancer Support.
John Hillis said he had been inspired by cancer sufferers and those who look after them.
He said: “I've wanted to do this trip for years and being able to do it and raise money for a charity that helps so many people, means that I really felt a sense of achievement.
“It is important to me that we can give something back to Macmillan who do such a wonderful job of caring for cancer sufferers and their families. It was great to pass so many of our hydroelectric stations. You could describe it as a work trip with a difference!”
Elspeth Atkinson, Director of Macmillan Cancer Support, paid tribute to the dynamic duo.
She said: “We are incredibly grateful to John and Ollie for putting in such a tremendous effort for the canoeing challenge.
“We could not provide the much needed practical, medical, emotional and financial support to people affected by cancer without people like them raising money for us. Macmillan believes that no-one should face cancer alone and with the support of people like Ollie and John, nobody will.”