Story
Mark and his three teammates made history when they kayaked the Northwest Passage - a world first! It's about more than the records though, it's about raising money for Wilderness Foundation UK.
In 2018, after Mark failed to row the Atlantic again, he felt devastated. His mental health spiralled. He overcame his feelings of worthlessness by getting back into nature and setting himself physical challenges.
He is raising money for Wilderness Foundation because they help people get into nature, and feel empowered through their experiences.
The Wilderness Foundation UK harnesses the power of the wilderness and nature to transform vulnerable lives and empowers people, in return, to conserve nature.
Each year they work with over 7,000 people, including some of the hardest-to-reach and most disadvantaged young people and adults. All of their projects and programmes provide direct support, connecting people to nature, helping improve mental and physical wellbeing and teaching people to care for the natural world, using nature as a therapeutic tool.
Wilderness Foundation UK’s CEO Jo Roberts, said, “Wilderness Foundation UK has a history of patrons who have been iconic explorers and adventurers. Mark is no different to them in the challenges and hardships they endured and survived. His passion to challenge himself and the ocean links him to the greats of this world. By taking on the Northwest Passage, paddling into an unknown both within himself and the environment, he will be inspiring others to face their fears and embrace their inner strengths.
“As a charity we work with children, teens and adults whose fears hold them back from trying, failing and succeeding -and they get stuck. Mark will be setting them an example of what it looks like to give life ‘a go’ and we will be following his paddle strokes and courage as he braves one of the most challenging and magnificent passages. Please follow and support him on his journey as he supports others who will undoubtedly take inspiration from his spirit of adventure."