An adventurous Scot who completed Ben Nevis and the West Highland Way during his 15-year cancer battle is desperate to get back out into nature after losing his mobility.

Nine weeks ago Steve Barnes received the devastating news that his terminal cancer had spread to his spine.

The 44-year-old has been living with stage four cancer since he was first diagnosed 15 years ago at age 30.

Despite gruelling operations and chemotherapy, Steve, from Arbroath, has refused to sit still and managed to complete hundreds of challenging hikes and runs including the Edinburgh Marathon, The West Highland Way and Ben Nevis.

Steve, who is also an experienced wildlife photographer, has managed to raise thousands for cancer charities over the years but can no longer walk after painful tumours were found at his spine.

Steve documents his adventures through his photography on Instagram

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He told the Daily Record: “I went from being out every day with my camera never out my arm to basically not being able to do anything.

“I have a hospital bed in my living room now. I have been coughing up blood and have actually had broken ribs from coughing so much.

“Nine weeks ago I was told that the cancer was in my spine. I decided there and then to go and climb a hill because it might be my last chance to do one.

“I climbed Mount Keen and two days later I could not walk.”

Steve says he is determined not to spend the rest of his life indoors.

He said: “All the time I have had cancer I have managed to put myself through anything but now I cant.

“I’m hoping a mobility scooter will be my way back to the life I had.

Steve Barnes

“I don’t know how much longer I have and I don’t want to spend it inside on my couch. I just want a chance at my normal life again.”

After looking at what may be available to him through the Government website, Steve realised he would have to save up for a scooter fit for outdoor adventures.

He said: “When I looked it was like going back in time 30 years. They were all granny scooters with a basket at the front. It’s so hard to find a scooter that is fit for purpose.

“The options of mobility available to people is just so poor.”

Steve is hoping for a scooter which can cope with different surfaces including beaches and gravel. However, the most up-to-date models can cost as much as £13,000.

Steve was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007.

After six months of chemotherapy he underwent an 11-hour operation, however one year later he received the tragic news that the cancer had returned in his liver.

Another operation to remove 50% of his liver was carried out.

Steve said: “At that point it’s always going to come back, you don’t ever really get the all clear.”

During a routine check-up in 2014, cancer was again spotted on Steve’s right lung.

He said: “That was a bit of a surprise. No one thought it would be the same cancer because it had been so long.

Steve had climbed hundreds of munros and raised thousands for cancer charities

“They had to take the bottom third of my right lung out which was a five or six hour surgery.”

It was then that Steve’s determination to get out and raise money for charity kicked in and, while still in hospital, he began training for the Edinburgh Marathon.

He completed the 42.195 kilometres run in May 2015 after having surgery in November 2014.

“I remember walking round the hospital every day and doing laps and worked my way up to it,” he said.

Steve then climbed the 1,345 meters of Ben Nevis.

Due to the collapse of his right lung, running became more and more difficult and so Steve decided to focus on walking instead.

He said: “I did 26 miles of the Fife coastal path, then I was back in for my chemo the next day.

“It was what was keeping me going.

“It helped my mental health because you always have so much time to yourself. Sitting in small spaces you don’t have much choice but to think about things but in a big open space things seem like a smaller problem.”

Due to chemotherapy affecting the nerves in his fingers, Steve was forced to close down his tattoo shop.

It was then that he began walking every day and took up photography.

He said: “I was in chemo from when I got my second lung cancer and continued walking through it.

I actually started doing the walks while I was getting the chemo because you have a mobile pump meaning you don’t need to stay in hospital – I don’t think the doctors were too happy.

“We did the three peeks challenge in Scotland, England and Wales in 22 hours.

Steve with his chemo pump while climbing a munro

“I also walked the West Highland Way in one go. It took 31 hours, I think that had been the most difficult but also my favourite. I want to push my limits.”

Steve continued lower walks and visits across Scotland to lochs and is determined that a mobility scooter can help him enjoy these sights once more.

His friend Steve Greer has set up the Go Fund Me page to raise the necessary funds for the scooter.

Steve said: “I cannot believe the amount of people who have messaged just offering to help.

“Every day people are leaving comments of support, you cannot help but feel positive from that.

“One guy donated £1000 and I contacted him because I thought he had got a digit wrong.”

To support the fundraiser click here.

Follow Steve's adventures and wildlife photography in Instagram here and here.