RSGS medal honour for adventurer Karen
The RSGS was delighted to host an evening talk with Inverness-based athlete, adventurer and speaker, Karen Darke MBE.
During the event in Perth on November 2, Karen was awarded the prestigious ‘Mungo Park Medal’.
The RSGS medal is given for ‘an outstanding contribution to geographical knowledge through exploration or adventure in potentially hazardous physical or social environments’.
Karen has exhibited an almost unprecedented ability to overcome the challenges life has thrown at her after she was paralysed from the neck down at the age of 21, following a climbing accident.
Working as an athlete and adventurer, she has remained optimistic, confident and motivated in the face of adversity.
To date, her feats in the world of self-propelled outdoor adventure have been both extraordinary and unique, completing a myriad of endurance challenges in kayaking, cycling, climbing and skiing, in landscapes as diverse as the ice sheets of Greenland, the mountains of the Himalaya, and the cliffs of Yosemite National Park.
In addition, this year’s recipient has successfully completed many of her adventures whilst also working full-time as para-cyclist for the GB Paralympic team which, most notably, resulted in a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games and the award of an MBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List.
This prestigious medal is named in honour of Mungo Park, the Scottish explorer famed for his expeditions to West Africa, and who ultimately gave his life in pursuit of following the River Niger to its terminus.
Mike Robinson, chief executive
Karen has completed climbing, kayaking, cycling, and skiing challenges of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, said: “Karen is one of the most deserving recipients of the Mungo Park Medal in our history. There is no doubt that Karen is an inspiration and role model to us all, consistently demonstrating the power of perseverance, positive thinking and self-belief in achieving our potential and overcoming whatever personal obstacles we may face.”
Speaking about the award, Karen said: “It’s a real honour to be awarded the Mungo Park Medal, and particularly special as my very inspiring PhD supervisor, Prof Chalmers Clapperton was awarded it 20 years ago!
“My contribution to geographical knowledge is nothing in comparison, but I hope that my thirst for the exploration of the world and sharing what I learn has brought something back to people in Scotland.”