'Inspiring the Maritime' !! We can all do this if we dream big and go for it !

No act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple but over time can create a tidal wave affecting the lives of many. Believe in yourself, dream big, have the courage to make it happen but remain humble and lift others whilst on your journey 🤗

My Nordic Challenge 2026 fundraiser is raising awareness of homelessness of seafarers, veterans and others. It will endeavour to encourage a broadening of horizons, a better understanding of careers at sea, break down stereotypes, and to think more openly about sustainability and our oceans within the blue economy. It will also be themed on looking out for each other and kindness. This will be based on a few personal factors.

• Many seafarers face homelessness or rely on charity. My Nordic journey will raise these issues as I will seek a home/refuge as I travel each day from mountain hut to mountain hut seeking shelter across a Viking trail in Lapland within the arctic circle.

• The entire expedition prioritises environmental friendliness, sustainability and ensuring it operates with a ‘leave no trace’ ethos – take only memories, leave only footprints.

• I wish to show the next generation that if someone like myself from social housing, a broken home and a challenging childhood can do it then so can they – Dream Big.

• This will primarily be about inspiring others but ultimately, it’s about raising funds for the fantastic maritime charity QVSR ordinarily known to seafarers as the Queen Vic or The Mission.

• Drawing on my 40 years in the maritime world, this campaign will continue to tell my story of inspiring others and will be just as ambitious as the Costa Rica Eco River Challenge 2025, Skydive 2024 and the Mt Kilimanjaro challenge I completed in 2023.

In August 2026 I will fly to Stockholm in Sweden and board the Arctic Circle Train and travel 15hrs overnight to Abisko, Sweden 200m inside the arctic circle. I will then hike through Lapland on a daily arduous trek heading North West across the tundra, mountains and valleys seeking shelter each evening in mountain huts. This is to raise awareness of seafarers homelessness and the need for charity operated seafarer centres (Missions). My journey will end about 8 days later in Narvik in Norway.

This endeavour may be on land as a physical challenge but the history of this route as Viking land, the Sami peoples and their fishing prowess, the brave Norwegian resistance during WWII and not least the battle of Narvik in 1940 ensures it has that maritime theme.

As I am self-funded this will be entirely at my own expense. All donations will go towards my chosen charity;

Queen Victoria Seafarers Rest - https://www.qvsr.org.uk/about-us/chief-executive/