Julie McElroy

A woman who overcame a number of disabilities spoke of her love of the outdoors after gaining the highest level of the John Muir Award.

Julie McElroy has cerebral palsy which has resulted in mobility problems, walking difficulties and speech impairment along with manual dexterity problems.

The 25-year-old Glaswegian also wears two hearing aids due to her profound deafness, but has refused to be daunted and completed her John Muir Conserver Award, receiving the honour from presenter and broadcaster Dougie Vipond.

While tackling the four challenges of her award she has trekked in the Himalayas, joined the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team on manoeuvre, climbed England’s third-highest mountain Helvellyn, paddled the length of Loch Shiel and led other disabled people on a three-day expedition on Arran.

Ms McElroy said: “I wanted to experience a totally new existence and challenges that are different from the ones I experience in everyday life. Being in the wild allows me to establish myself more as a person.

“I love the outdoors because it allows you to rebalance yourself as a person. I love coming up with new ideas and I wanted to lead by example.

“The buzz of the outdoors began for me when I was a child and I now want to unleash opportunities where other disabled people can climb a mountain, get involved in taking responsibility for the natural environment and most importantly enjoy the fun, adventure and exploration of the wild.”

The John Muir Conserver Award is the highest level of the John Muir Award, which is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. The award encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. It is the educational initiative of the John Muir Award.

The trust’s chairman John Hutchison said: “By getting involved in the John Muir Award Julie McElroy has set an example to us all. Not only has she refused to see her disability as a barrier to experiencing and caring for wild places, but she has actively encouraged others to do the same.

“Congratulations to Julie on her huge achievement, and I’m pleased that Julie’s John Muir Conserver Award helps recognise and celebrate her own spirit of adventure and challenge.”

Ms McElroy receives her award from Dougie Vipond

Presenting the award at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority’s headquarters in Balloch, Mr Vipond added: “Adventure is important, it challenges and stimulates us, and it can lead us to wonderful wild places we perhaps wouldn’t normally visit.

“Julie’s achievements are a reminder to us all that experiencing adventure and challenge in Scotland, and further afield, should be open to all regardless of age, ability or background.

“Congratulations to Julie for demonstrating her drive and determination in completing her John Muir Conserver Award.

“Wild places and the spirit of adventure can only benefit from being championed by her.”