After being diagnosed two years ago with motor neurone disease, which has taken away much of his physical ability, experienced kayaking and outdoor “legend” Adrian Harkin turned his attentions to supporting crucial medical research into the condition.

The culmination of these efforts is Summit 2 Sea for MND, a nationwide fundraising challenge for Harkin’s many friends in Ireland’s outdoor community to paddle the coasts and summit the heights of each county in Ireland on Saturday 20 April.

And as the Irish Independent reports, among the participants was 54-year-old Harkin himself — on an emotional journey on Lough Foyle in a double kayak paddled by his eldest daughter Jessica.

“He knew setting off on Saturday that this was likely to be his last time in a ­kayak, a place where he found so much joy and from where he brought his skills and knowledge of the water to so many friends and colleagues,” Kathy Donaghy writes.

But despite the bittersweet nature of the day, it was also “It was amazing to see our friend complete the challenge just as he had envisioned”.

Independent.ie has more on the story HERE.