Lecturer to embark on Alaskan canoe adventure in aid of medical research
A lecturer from UHI Inverness will canoe hundreds of miles in the Alaskan wilderness with his father in July to help fund research into his four-year-old daughter’s rare life-limiting condition.
Business and Management Lecturer David Jack from Croy will spend nearly three weeks of his academic summer break with his dad Rae on an unguided canoe adventure on both the Sheenjek and Porcupine rivers in remote and unpopulated territory.
David has set up a JustGiving page and all the money raised will go to the Foundation for Prader Willi Research (FPWR UK) to help finance its efforts to secure a breakthrough in treating his daughter Robyn’s condition. No monies raised will be used to fund the trip.
David said: “Unfortunately my daughter Robyn was born with a rare life-limiting condition called Prader Willi Syndrome or PWS as it’s known. PWS is a rare disease and FPWR UK, of which I’m a board member, raise funds for vital medical research. The prospect of life-changing treatments is genuinely round the corner.”
PWS causes low muscle tone, developmental delays and other complications. One of its symptoms is hyperphagia, a constant feeling of profound hunger, which develops later in childhood. There are promising treatments under trial and David hopes that Robyn will be one of the first generation of sufferers to live free from hyperphagia.
Rae, who lives near Alness and is a seasoned canoeist and adventurer, has been planning the trip for years and David got on board about seven months ago.
David said: “We’ll be canoeing the 288-long Sheenjek River from its source in the Brooks Mountain range in Northern Alaska. We will also canoe a section of the Porcupine River which will take us to our eventual destination of Fort Yukon. We won’t pass through any settlements during our route and will be in true wilderness for the duration of our trip. This is an unsupported trip and it’s just the two of us.”
They will leave Scotland for Fairbanks, Alaska on Thursday, 6 July and the pair and their second-hand canoe will be flown in a small aeroplane to the starting point. They plan to paddle for as many full days as possible and it is expected to take them nearly three weeks to complete their route.
David said: “I have river and sea kayaking experience, albeit this is my first major trip on an open canoe. I do however have experience of expeditions gained in the mountains both in Scotland and overseas. My father has completed four Arctic canoeing expeditions.
“He wanted to complete this and had planned on doing it a few years ago but Covid-19 got in the way. From my perspective it seemed like a unique once in a life-time opportunity. Thankfully, my wife allowed me to go with him!
“I’m looking forward to doing something unique in a special part of the world, to spending time with my dad and to raising awareness about my daughter’s condition. My one concern about the trip is all the mosquitoes, I’m told it’s them and not the bears that we really have to worry about!”
David has been encouraged by his supportive colleagues at UHI Inverness, and Ross Pattison in the Sports department has given him vital sports nutrition advice.
Professor Chris O’Neil, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI Inverness, said: “I never fail to be amazed and humbled by our talented and compassionate staff. David’s adventurous spirit and his dedication to a cause that means so much to his family is inspiring, and a great example to our students. We wish him the very best of luck and look forward to hearing all about it on his return.”
To donate visit: David Jack is fundraising for Foundation for Prader-Willi Research UK (justgiving.com).
To keep up with David’s plans for his trip visit: Foundation for Prader Willi Research - Sheejek River - Equipment and Medicine for a Remote Expedition (fpwr.org.uk)