A Moray guy is taking over a five-day backpacking hike around the Swedish Article Circle in reminiscence of his spouse.

James MacInnes, from Elgin, begins his five-day trek in the course of the northern wasteland of Sweden nowadays.

He’s elevating price range for Macmillan and Most cancers Analysis UK after his spouse, Valerie Dowling, died from most cancers remaining August.

The 48-year-old will spend 5 days trekking 69 miles around the northern circle, via well-marked paths in addition to bouldered terrain, sporting his tent and gear with him alongside the way in which.

He determined to adopt the problem on account of his spouse’s love for visiting Scandinavian international locations for pictures.

They’d travelled to Iceland in combination, the place the couple spent many evenings taking images in combination. They’d additionally been making plans a travel to Norway.

He mentioned: “Even if she wasn’t a lot of a walker, she cherished pictures, and we’d move on vacations that have been deliberate as a result of she sought after to move and take pictures.

“Going someplace dramatic and wonderful all of it suits.

“I sought after to do one thing other and I sought after to place the hassle in to do one thing worthy of her.

“I sought after to do one thing that are compatible her, and he or she cherished the theory of visiting Scandinavian international locations, she cherished the wildness and all that so it is going in combination for me, it kind of feels to suit.”

‘It’s going to be painful’

Mr MacInnes has been instructed the elements may also be like northern Scotland, being sunny and heat, however changeable to rainy and chilly.

He has needed to pack a couple of waterproofs and take a look at to be as ready as imaginable, whilst sporting as low as he can so to pick out around the boulder terrain.

Any other problem he’ll wish to conquer is he’ll be up to now north it’ll by no means get darkish, which means sound asleep could be tough.

“It’ll be an excellent trek,” he mentioned. “The elements can be up and down all, over where, you could have to take a look at to hide all scenarios, however clearly attempt to take as little weight as imaginable, since you lift the entirety for 5 days, and if it will get damp it could get heavier.

“It’s going to be painful. I’m simply off form for it, I’m going to need to get my head down and stay going.

“I’m outdated and heavy, even if I will stroll and stay on going, joints do get stiff and sore within the mornings.”

Mr MacInnes is being joined through his sister Becky and her spouse Kurt, in addition to his pal Catriona.

All price range raised will move immediately to Macmillan Most cancers Make stronger and Most cancers Analysis UK, and his employer Taqa will fit what’s raised.

He mentioned he selected the 2 charities in order that cash will move against researching how one can prevent most cancers and in addition serving to those that can’t beat it themselves.