An Angus man who was once given just four weeks to live has set his sights on a 117-mile challenge, despite his kidneys shutting down just weeks ago.
David Ogilvie, 35, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, is battling back to full health after starting the year laid up in Ninewells Hospital. He had picked up a virus, which made him sick and he ended up hugely dehydrated.
Now he is preparing to put his latest setback behind him and planning an eight-day trek of the Fife Coastal Path.
Mr Ogilvie said: “I look forward to once again pushing myself in doing something I hear others say they couldn’t do.
“I haven’t had the best of luck with my health and my body isn’t the way I would have hoped for but it is the way it is and with help I accepted that.
“I do still hope people can look at me and draw some strength from what I do in setting myself these challenges.”
Mr Ogilvie, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease aged just 18. has taken on a series of challenges since he recovered from lifesaving surgery to remove his large bowel in 2014, having been told he would have just four weeks to live without it.
He was off work for four months while he recovered.
In 2017 he decided to mark three years since the surgery by successfully climbing two Munros in one day — Mayar and Driesh in Glen Doll.
He has since managed to bag a series of Munros including Schiehallion, Ben Vorlich, Mount Keen, Creag Leacach, Carn Liath and Ben Chonzie.
In 2018 he walked 96 miles over six days along the West Highland Way, camping each night to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity.
Mr Ogilvie, who works at AM Phillips Trucktech in Forfar, has decided to set himself a challenge for this year and will be taking on the Fife Coastal Path.
“Things can change in life and sadly not always for the better,” he said.
“But life is there to be lived, I know and understand how hard things can be in life through illness but don’t let any illness control your life – I’m not and I’ve a huge sense of achievement from it.”
