Hi, my name is Christina and I'm a 31 year old nature and outdoor lover. Quite unusually, I've also had my right hip replaced twice! Starting on the 17th of August 2025, I am solo hiking over 300km across the Scottish Highlands to raise money for two amazing projects: Able 2 Adventure and Loch Abar Mor.

Able 2 Adventure deliver incredible outdoor and adventurous activities for disabled people from their base in the Highlands of Scotland. Rock climbing, stand up paddle boarding, mountain biking... You name it, they probably do it. Not only this, they work across the country to train, support and guide other outdoor activity providers so they can also support groups of all abilities to experience the outdoors at it's rawest and most exciting.

Loch Abor Moris an exciting, landscape-scale restoration project seeking to transform iconic, but severely nature depleted, areas across the Lochaber region of the highlands. Built on partnerships, this project brings people and nature together to not only enhance biodiversity by helping wildlife, it will also strengthen rural communities for years to come.

But why have I needed such surgery so young and why are these projects important to me? Well, it's been a bit of journey...

I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hip when I was at university. It was a complete fluke and to this day I still don't know why or how it developed, but it was so progressed that the only solution was a complete joint replacement - a big surprise for 20 year old me! I was in a lot of pain (and even borrowed my 85 year old grandma's walking stick to get around) but I finished university and got my first surgery at 21 years old. Everything went well, I returned to normal mobility and I thought everything was solved. Little did I know, it had just begun...

About 3 years later the pain in my hip returned, but it was a different. I could manage the arthritis pain with painkillers and walking aids, but there was no relief from this. It was absolutely excruciating. I went back to the hospital hoping for answers but x-rays, ultrasounds and MRIs revealed nothing. This went on for 5 years. In this time, the pain got worse and worse to the point where I no longer felt like myself. The pain was often spontaneous and could come from any kind of activity so I stopped exercising, stopped spending time in nature and minimised how much I walked as much as possible. With the pain and uncertainty, I also became down, withdrawn and anxious. In short, I was absolutely miserable.

Finally in late 2023 I got a diagnosis: the stem of my replacement (the section that goes into my femur and connects to the 'ball' past of the ball-in-socket) had significantly loosened, which meant that any tendons, muscles, bone or tissue in that area was being continuously jolted or tugged. Again, the only solution was a replacement, although this time it was only the stem-and-ball section at least! The surgery was more complex - there was a risk that the stem wouldn't come out and that my surgeon would have to split my femur (yikes) to get it out, or drill further into my femur to get the new one to stick, reducing my mobility even more. Buttt if I didn't get the surgery soon then there was a risk that the existing stem could snap inside me as it was so loose! Double yikes.

I got the surgery in November of 2024 and thankfully everything went well! For the first time in years, I've started to feel like myself again. I've rebuilt my strength and fitness, I spend time in nature again and am determined to never take my mobility for granted. However, the mental effects of living with chronic pain have taken longer to shift and I still struggle with anxiety and self doubt.

To reclaim my mental health I've set myself the challenge to solo hike from my hometown in Milngavie along the West Highland Way to Fort William before continuing on the East Highland Way to Aviemore, a distance of over 300km. I'll be wild camping along the way and documenting the journey for social media (Instagram here), sharing my experiences of living with chronic pain and my challenges with my mental health in the hopes that others may relate.

When I was struggling, I lost my connection to nature, something which felt such a big part of who I was and something that should have helped me cope with the stress and anxiety of living with chronic pain. We're also living in a time where nature is in crisis, and Britain remains one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

I strongly believe that everyone, regardless of their ability, gender, race, religion or economic status should have access to nature. I also believe that nature has a right to thrive, and that our happiness as individuals and communities deeply relies on having a healthy, biodiverse planet. I couldn't think of two better projects that support this vision, and any funds raised will go directly to these two projects.

Thank you for reading and for any donation, large or small that you can give!