Last week, we shared that Jubilee’s very own Rowan Homer was setting off on an epic mission: tackling the 100-mile West Highland Way across Scotland in just three days, all to raise vital funds and awareness for Sarcoma UK.

Now, Rowan is back in the office, his feet are recovering, and he’s ready to share the raw, unfiltered truth of how the journey actually unfolded.

Into the Wild: The Journey

On 9 October, Rowan set out with a clear goal: to challenge himself physically and mentally, push past his comfort zone, and discover just how far he could go. What followed, however, was one of the toughest experiences he has ever put himself through.

  • Day 1: 14 solid hours of walking through relentless rain, wind, hail, and boggy fields. After tackling Conic Hill with a 25kg backpack, freezing temperatures, and shaking knees, the team pitched their tents on the shores of Loch Lomond. Things took an even more dramatic turn when the tide began coming in overnight, forcing a rapid evacuation to a nearby footpath—only for Rowan to spend the rest of the night sliding down a steep slope inside his tent!

  • Day 2: Another 13 hours of grueling walking through extreme temperature swings—overheating on ascents before freezing in the wind and rain. Despite wearing £300 Gore-Tex boots, painful blisters formed across both feet and heels. Relying heavily on mutual motivation and encouragement, the day finally ended with sweet relief: a warm shower, a three-course dinner, and a proper bed at a hotel.

  • Day 3: Waking up with unbearable foot pain and a golf-ball-sized blister on his heel, Rowan tried everything to keep moving. However, his walking partner, Nick—a Commanding Officer in the British Army’s Tank Regiment with over 20 years of service and three tours of Afghanistan—stepped in. Recognizing that continuing through remote terrain in that condition could put them both at severe risk if help wasn’t readily available, Nick insisted they stop.

Listening to the judgment of an experienced military commander was tough, and Rowan admits he felt completely gutted, emotionally attached to the goal, and felt like he had “folded at the final hurdle.” But looking back, he knows stopping was undeniably the right decision.

“Resilience isn’t always about pushing through the pain. Sometimes, it’s about recognising when pushing further is no longer the right decision.”

What Does the Trail Teach Us About Recruitment?

As a recruitment consultant here at Jubilee, Rowan found that the lessons learned on the Scottish trails apply directly to the workplace:

  1. Resilience: Things don’t always go to plan. Searches get difficult, placements fall through, and candidates face rejection. True success comes from regrouping, adapting, and continuing toward the right outcome.

  2. Teamwork and Relationships: Just as Nick and Rowan motivated each other through exhaustion, strong recruitment relies on trust, honest communication, and being that pillar of support when someone struggles to believe in themselves.

  3. Knowing When to Adapt: Determination is vital, but so is good judgment. Pushing relentlessly toward a target doesn’t always produce the best result; recognizing when to reassess and change direction is a strength, not a weakness.

  4. Remembering the Person Behind the Objective: Recruitment isn’t just about CVs, targets, or filling vacancies—it’s about people, their ambitions, and their futures. The best outcomes happen when we build genuine trust.

Supporting a Cause That Matters

Rowan took on this immense challenge in support of Sarcoma UK, a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by sarcoma—a rare cancer developing in bones and soft tissues.

While Rowan’s trial on the trail was a choice, the challenges faced by those affected by sarcoma are life-changing and completely outside their control. Raising awareness and contributing to vital research remains the true heart of this journey.

Keeping the Momentum Going

The West Highland Way may have beaten the three-day target, but it hasn’t beaten Rowan’s determination to make a difference.

  • Physical Resilience: Discovering physical boundaries.

  • Mental Resilience: Pressing on when conditions turned hostile.

  • Teamwork: Valuing the right partner beside you.

  • Judgment: Understanding that stopping can be the strongest decision.

  • Purpose: Channeling a personal challenge into something much bigger than oneself.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Rowan and donated to Sarcoma UK so far. If you would like to contribute and help make a difference, every donation counts.

👉 Donate to Rowan’s Sarcoma UK fundraiser here