​Campbell Roy’s skill at reading a map is exceptionally well developed, and he enters the Borders this weekend with the confidence that he won’t lose his way during a charity trek spanning 540 miles. A longtime figure in rallying, Roy served as a co-driver for some of the sport’s greatest names and notched up experience in more than 150 rallies. His navigational career includes working with the late Colin McRae and his father, Jimmy, helping steer them to success on countless stages.
Four years ago, Roy formed a friendship with another Scottish sporting luminary, Sir Chris Hoy, who had taken up rally driving after retiring from a storied cycling career. Roy acted as Hoy’s co-driver for the McRae Rally Challenge in 2022 and again in 2025. By then, Hoy’s terminal cancer diagnosis had become public knowledge. It was in the wake of that revelation that Roy decided to take action to raise awareness of prostate cancer and to fund research.
Hoist by the weight of seeing his friend endure such a battle, Sir Chris Hoy has spoken about how the diagnosis reshaped his approach to life. He has described that moment as a turning point, a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of living with purpose. The cycle champion’s wife, Sarra, had also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which intensified Hoy’s commitment to the cause and to spreading the message about early detection and funding for research into prostate cancer. Roy recalls Hoy’s resilience and the family’s determination to contribute in any way possible, and he says that experience compelled him to act.
That moment of inspiration led Roy to devise a new challenge: a long-distance trek along the Scottish National Trail, a route of 540 miles stretching from Kirk Yetholm, just south of Kelso, to Cape Wrath on Scotland’s far north-west coast. The route was created by outdoors writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish and is reputed to trace a series of well-established footpaths as it meanders through the Borders and across the Central Belt, before venturing into tougher, boggy terrain. The journey culminates with a demanding ascent of up to 1,000 metres in a single day, and finally connects with the awe-inspiring Cape Wrath Trail.
Roy is already rallying support from the world he knows best. He has enlisted past and present motorsport teams and drivers, as well as many loyal supporters, to help unite the sporting community behind the cause. In a recent appeal, he invited anyone who wishes to join him to walk alongside him for portions of the route or to keep him company on separate legs of the journey. He has spoken with gratitude about the encouragement he has received from Chris Hoy and from Prostate Cancer Research, along with a host of other organizations that have lent their support.
The central motivation behind Roy’s undertaking is clear: to raise awareness about prostate cancer and, crucially, to encourage men to get checked. By publicizing the need for early detection and contributing to research funding, Roy hopes to spare others from the heartbreak of terminal diagnoses similar to Hoy’s. He emphasizes that his own life has been transformed by the chance to take on this challenge, and that it seems a fitting way to honor his friend and advocate for a cause that affects so many men and their families. The mission is not only to traverse a remarkable Scottish trail but to illuminate a path toward better health outcomes through proactive screening and sustained research investment.