Campbell Roy plans to walk 537 miles through Scotland this summer, and he wants £50,000 for Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) when he gets to the end.
He calls it Trek 500. The route follows the Scottish National Trail in 43 stages between July and September. It starts at Kirk Yetholm in the Borders and finishes at Cape Wrath in Sutherland, close to the northern tip of the country.
A launch at the Falkirk Wheel
Roy, known in motorsport as a navigator and a friend of Jimmy McRae, father of the late rally driver Colin McRae, unveiled the walk at the Falkirk Wheel on 28 May. Representatives of PCR, Prostate Scotland, Scottish Canals, Walking Scotland, the Scottish Rally Championship and the Association of Scottish Motorsport Clubs were there.
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy backed the walk with a video message. Roy met him through motorsport, and Hoy has been at several Scottish Rally Championship events sponsored by Asset Alliance Group.
“I’m really grateful to Campbell for coming up with this idea,” Hoy said, adding that there has been “a huge push to introduce screening, routine testing and to improve awareness of the importance of knowing your own personal risk of prostate cancer.” He said he would be following Roy’s progress through the summer.
Roy was blunt about the scale of what he faces. “It’s a journey that will test my endurance, resilience and determination,” he said, “but it is nothing compared to the challenge faced by those living with prostate cancer.” Every pound raised goes to PCR, he said.
Why Scotland
The campaign points to a gap in the figures. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, and one man in eight will be told he has it at some point. Scotland has one of the worst records in the country for catching it late: 35% of men diagnosed there are already at Stage 4, when the disease can no longer be cured.
The comparison is stark. In London the share is 12.5%, in North-west England 17% and in Wales 19%.
PCR is pressing for national screening programmes for all UK men. It also puts a price on late diagnosis. Treating advanced prostate cancer can cost more than £127,000 per patient, against roughly £13,000 when the disease is found early.
Backing and how to help
Bullet Express, Euro Commercials and Culina Group have signed up as stage sponsors. Asset Alliance Group and PCR are supporting Roy with a team. He hopes members of the public will turn out along the route, and he is available for interviews.
Donations can be made at justgiving.com/campaign/trek-500. A website, Trek500.org.uk, is due to carry the full route and timings and details of how to join the walk.
Consult your doctor for medical advice.
Sources
- Trek 500 challenge launched to raise crucial funds for Prostate Cancer Research – Asset Alliance Group
- Trek 500 challenge launched to raise crucial funds for Prostate Cancer Research
