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100522 Iain McGregor/Stuff Finding Ben. Ben Lott out for an evening paddle in Wanaka. Photo: Iain McGregor
In 2018, Ben Lott was competing in the GODZone adventure challenge when he fell, suffering a life changing brain injury.
Within weeks, he'd lost his speech, his job, his partner and some of his friends. Someone who didn't leave his side was fellow racer, Scott Worthington.
As Ben faced an arduous recovery, Scott encouraged him to set goals to get back into nature. After tramps, kayaking trips and bike rides, the pair their sights on a slightly bigger challenge; the Yukon 1000, the world's longest canoe race. Capturing that journey was journalist Mike White, who accompanied the pair on their trip to Canada. It's now the subject of a short film - Finding Ben, screening at the Mountain Film and Book Festival.