Scotty Darroch Is Hiking the West Highland Way with a Unique Twist
[Trigger warning. This news story contains reference to suicide, self-harm, and drug use].
Scotty Darroch is a former Invictus Games competitor and a member of the We Are Invictus Community, who has utilised sport to aid in his recovery journey and is now taking on a mammoth challenge in order to give back to the community.
Scotty plans to walk the world-famous West Highland Way in Scotland, a distance of 96 miles in 7 days, with a washing machine strapped to his back, in order to raise funds for the Invictus Games Foundation.
"On a daily basis we all shoulder emotional loads of one description or another and the carriage of an everyday item such as a washing machine across arduous terrain symbolises this unseen normality for those affected by trauma," Scotty said on the meaning behind the challenge.
The title of Scotty's challenge is West Highland Way: Carry The Load as he hopes to show the members of the injured or ill international service community that there are people and organisations out there that want to provide help and support.
Scotty was a member of Team UK at the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 and Toronto 2017 and is an active member of the We Are Invictus Community, having taken part in an Invictus Adventure to summit a mountain in Colorado in 2023.
"Heavy loads don’t carry themselves and the individuals that do require support with their burden," he said.
During this challenge he will be supported by Level Peaks, a veteran founded, owned and managed business that specialises in providing apparel and tactical equipment.
The challenge starts on May 12th and you can donate to Scotty's fundraising page here.
Scotty served for ten years as a Corporal and Training Instructor in the UK Army’s Royal Logistic Corps and has operational service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
Scotty had an extremely difficult period during his military career and when he subsequently left the Army. He wasn't aware at the time that he was suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues and he started to self-medicate with alcohol, cocaine, and eventually heroin, when still serving in the Armed Forces.
Scotty attempted to take his own life multiple times and it took him nearly 20 years to reach out and ask for help and he was finally given a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Sport became a big part of Scotty's recovery journey and found help through leading an active lifestyle which eventually led him to competing at the Invictus Games and being appointed the Team UK Powerlifting Captain at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.
"My time competing at the Invictus Games was humbling and rewarding and I have found great support and camaraderie from the We Are Invictus Community," he said.
If you would like to support the work of the Invictus Games Foundation in helping the members of the We Are Invictus Community like Scotty, please donate here.
