• Expeditions

    Mt Toubkal 4,167m 2013

    Mt Toubkal 4,167m and High Atlas Mountains, Morocco Oct 2013 We were a very mixed and friendly group of 7; three men – me, Benno and Adam and 4 ladies, Lesley, Julie, Annabelle and Kay. On arrival at Marrakesh Airport our old friend and team leader Stephen Pinfold with his local right hand man Ibraham Amzil were there to meet us. A people carrier picked us up, from our hotel in Marrakesh; transporting us up to the start of our trek on the High Atlas Mountain range. Dropping us and our entire luggage off in what seemed the middle of nowhere. Steve and Ibraham, instructed us to repack what’s needed…

  • Expeditions

    Mt.Everest Base Camp 2014

    Our journey to Everest Base Camp Nepal, 17,598 feet (5,364m) above sea level.   The Team : Roger, Lucas Bateman, Lesley Pender, Annie (Annabelle) Hancock ,Clive Hagley & his youngest son Max, Julie Jones, Jan Meek Our journey to Everest Base Camp on the lower slopes of world’s highest and arguably the most majestic mountain is as spiritual uplifting as it is physically challenging. What makes it tougher; is trekking at altitude; rising an additional 2680m, eventually to reach Everest Base Camp, sited at 5360m; where there is 50% less oxygen compared to sea level. Altitude sickness can hit you at any time, specially over 3000m We flew from from…

  • Speaking

    Inspirational Speaker

    “Live a Life to Die For”. sums up my philosophy I am  an accomplished motivational speaker. One man’s journey in recovery from Crime, Addiction and Cancer to Wild Adventures Having  personal  experiences of expeditions in the Arctic, Rowing the Atlantic, mountains and playing the two highest games of Rugby in history; to relating to challenges people face in recovery and in their everyday lives. My inspiring world of adventure encompasses a wide range; even my self motivation in arduous and extreme conditions, mental and/or physical. Typifying my tenacity or pig-headedness in overcoming the odds. **I need to remind myself that each of us has our own personal mountains to conquer;…

  • Adventures,  Expeditions

    Sahara Desert

    To me, the Sahara displays an awe-inspiring uniqueness as did the North Pole. They share extremes of contrasts yet alike in so many ways; legend, mystery and raw beauty. Both can and will kill you if you don’t respect them. The Sahara is the largest non-polar desert on our planet; 3,320,000 square miles (8,600,000 square km) If you take the wrong dune and lose your way, you’re in deep do-do, (shit)! A desert is a barren area, defined by averaging less than 10 inches / 25cm of precipitation (rainfall) each year. Clear skies, light wind and dry air helps the air temperature cool off significantly at night.  Insufferable heat during the…

  • Adventures,  Expeditions

    “How I Climbed Kilimanjaro Twice, Once with a Metal Knee”

    Myself and friends embarked on a huge personal challenge, to climb the highest mountain on the African continent. Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano, rising out of the African plains it is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world 5,895 m (19,341 ft); on the northern border of Tanzania, 200 miles south of the equator. We climbed the Machame Route in 2010m and I returned in September 2012  with a total metal knee replacement -Why ??? to prove it works! And It Did **** When we reached the summit, Uhuru Peak by the Rongai Route, when darkness was gradually being replaced by “a burst of orange and pink light that painted…

  • Recovery

    I’m More Than My Past

    Roger, as an Ambassador for The Forward Trust https://morethanmypast.org.uk/roger-ds-story/ The Forward Trust empowers people to break the cycles of addiction or crime to move forward with their lives. Since 1991, we have been working with people to build positive and productive futures. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change, whatever their past, as celebrated in our More Than My Past campaign. Our services have supported thousands of people to make changes to create better lives with jobs, family, friends and a sense of community. #livealifetodiefor