In August 2024, Darren became the first person with a disability to kayak Western Europe’s longest fjord – the magnificent Sognefjord, known to the Vikings as the King Fjord. Over the course of a ten-day expedition, the team paddled from the fjord’s source at the village of Skjolden, nestled beneath Europe’s largest continental glacier, Jostedalsbreen, towards the open waters of the North Sea.

Moving slowly but deliberately through freezing, deep-blue water, the team paddled beneath towering mountains and cascading waterfalls, making steady progress through one of Scandinavia’s most awe-inspiring natural environments. Upon completing the expedition, Darren committed to returning to the Sognefjord to create a similar opportunity for others. Less than twelve months later, he did exactly that – leading a group of adaptive adventurers through the fjord via his company, Adaptive Expeditions.

In his keynote speeches, Darren uses the Sognefjord expedition to reflect on the power of perspective. Surrounded by a landscape of extraordinary beauty, he was reminded of the importance of slowing down, taking stock, and practising gratitude – highlighting how perspective, even in the midst of challenge, can reshape how we view pressure, progress, and what truly matters.