Jim and Ian face bears, bush fires, bugs and blisters on extreme charity challenge
Two former long-serving police officers from Devon will team up next month to tackle what’s been described as the most gruelling race on the planet.
Bears, bush fires, bugs and blisters will be just some of the challenges facing FORCE trustee Jim Nye (57) from Exeter and Ian Tyers (61) from Rockbeare when they take part in the Yukon 1000 to raise money for FORCE Cancer Charity.
It’s the world’s longest kayak marathon, starting at Whitehorse in Canada and finishing inside the Arctic Circle where the Dalton Highway crosses the Yukon river in Alaska.
The event represents the final piece of a trilogy for Jim and Ian. In 2009 they completed the UK’s longest canoe race, 125 miles from Devizes to Westminster.
In 2024 they joined a crew that rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic.
Epic
Friends for more than 30 years, Jim and Ian hope their latest expedition will raise at least £1 for every mile they complete via their online fundraising page – www.justgiving.com/page/james-nye-2
More people climb Everest each year than complete the Yukon 1000. Thousands apply to take part but only 30 teams of two made it through this year, including Devon’s intrepid twosome.
They are in for an epic, high-risk adventure, following the footsteps of early settlers through untouched wilderness.
“It’s extreme, it’s brutal and it’s relentless,” said Jim, former Assistant Chief Constable with Devon and Cornwall Police.
“You paddle for 18 hours a day in amazing isolation. There’s a risk of heatstroke in the sun and hypothermia out of it.
Rough
“We’ll be camping rough and getting about four and a half hours sleep a night.
“We have to take everything we need to survive in the wilderness for 10 days – dried food, water purifying equipment, clothing, a tent, sleeping bags and special masks to protect us from smoke inhalation if we encounter wildfires.”
The race starts on July 10. Jim and Ian hope to complete it in eight days. The cut off is nine days 18 hrs. 
The route takes them through bear country with Grizzlies and Black Bears a common sight and a constant threat. Food has to be kept in bear-proof bags or barrels, 50 metres from their tent and as they’ll be eating on the water, their kayak must also be 50 metres distant while they sleep in case the smell of their provisions attracts unwanted visitors!
Teams are not allowed to use mobile communication devices but they have satellite phones for emergencies and a GPS tracker that updates their position every 10 minutes.
Tracking
They must wear lifejackets equipped with the tracking devices, an emergency foil blanket, fire starting kit and torch in case they lose their boat.
Jim and Ian have been training for a number of months including time spent on Lake Windermere, the River Wye, the Exe and along the South Devon coast.
Jim also topped up his general fitness by taking part in the Great West Run for FORCE at the end of May.
He has supported the charity for more than 20 years and is now on their Board of Trustees.
FORCE is a local charity that supports thousands of people in Devon affected by cancer. It is not part of the NHS and receives no Government funding.
Essential
We need to raise nearly £2 million every year to maintain all the free services we provides at our main centre in Exeter and community hospitals and health centres in Okehampton, Tiverton, Ottery St Mary and Cullompton.
Donations, legacies and fundraising – from community events to extreme personal challenge’s like Jim’s and Ian’s – are essential to the charity’s survival.
Jim’s restless sense of adventure is no surprise to his family.
“When I say what my next challenge is, I get a smile and a raising of the eyebrows from my partner and then 100% support. My three kids describe me as ‘not a normal dad.’ They know I get bored easily and have to keep challenging myself,” he said.
Ian added: “I’m sure it will be more physically challenging than our Atlantic row, but, hey ho, let’s give it a go.
“We’re expecting to be destroyed BUT it needs to be done and we want to raise funds for the FORCE Cancer Charity. Let’s face it, this illness has affected all of us in some way.”
