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HOCo Wilderness Challenge · 30 November 2021

Guy's Cancer Charity

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RCN 1160316-16
We provide care and treatment to help more people survive cancer

Story

The HOCo. Wilderness Challenge is an unsupported, 300km amphibious trek across the northern wilderness to raise money for cancer research. The challenge represents the journey of cancer treatment: feeling alone, the emotional rollercoaster, the endurance of chemotherapy, the physical shock of surgery and the long road to recovery. Alone in the wilderness we run the rollercoaster of rapids, endure large lake crossings, suffer the physical shock of carrying our canoes and equipment overland and finally, after approx 200km, ditch the canoes and strap on our packs to hike the long road to the end. There is only one rule: whatever kit you canoe in with, you must carry out. This presents a unique problem to solve, just like cancer. We have run the challenge twice in Finnish Lapland and once in Ontario. In 2022 we return to Ontario to make it 2 on both sides of the pond. The first 2-3 days entails the rollercoaster of grade 2(3) rapids. From there we navigate our way through a network of lakes, rivers and swamps to get to the hiking trail. There are significant numbers of portages along the whole canoe route, between 50m to 2km in length. Portages can be simple or extremely challenging, negotiating obstacles like fallen trees is common place and routes can be blocked. Having completed the canoe phase we then ditch the canoes, strap on the packs and see how far we can get down the infamous Ottawa-Temaskaming Hiking Trail in whatever time we have left. All camping is wild camping. Campsites are a lottery on these routes and at best are a clearing to pitch tents in, a bench or logs to sit on. Maybe a firepit or a thunderbox. Mostly they are just a space tents can be placed and there is no guarantee it isn’t overgrown or even still there. The current team have been training since before lockdown. Every member of the team has been affected by cancer in some way, be it losing loved ones, loved ones undergoing treatment, they being treated themselves or, in some cases, all of the above. Every penny raised really does make a difference. We've run this Challenge since 2016. This is the first time Women have participated and the first time cancer victims have participated. Please help us smash our target!

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