My name is Christian (aged 16). I am going on a canoe expedition in the Scottish Highlands along the river Spey in August 2017. I will be journeying roughly 80 kilometres solo in a 15-foot canoe (with a guide in another canoe for support) carrying my own provisions and equipment. During this journey, I will be camping wild along the river making my own shelter, purifying water and building camp fires. I am aiming to journey in an eco-friendly way and leave no mark on the environment.

I have chosen to do this to support two causes that are close to my heart:

1. In March 2016 I suffered a severe brain injury (concussion) which had a massive impact on my life, as the recovery took well over a year. It was a very scary and difficult time and I had to miss a lot of school and competing in my sporting activities. It was also very isolating.

I have had great support from my family, friends, school and athletic club coaches. In addition, the Paediatric Aquired Brain Injury Clinic in Addenbrookes Hospital played a vital role in my recovery. Because of the fantastic support I was given by them, I would like to raise money to support the amazing work they are doing for families and children with brain injuries. I also want to inspire other teenagers in their road to recovery after concussion.

2. I am going on a school trip to Nepal in the Easter holidays in 2018. We will be working with two communities in Nepal. I want to raise money to enable us to provide practical aid and assistance to the Aapshawara village. They are a Dallit community ('untouchable cast') and get very little help from the government. They are largely subsistence farmers. Poverty has forced some of the older boys and men to seek work abroad where they often end up in hard labour construction work and are easily exploited.

Thanks for your support.