But the dad's latest challenge – to kayak 65 miles in the Highlands before cycling to Glasgow from Fort William – is already leaving him cold ... because he has a phobia of being under water.
The 39-year-old, from Gourock, is part of a team braving the mammoth paddle in a bid to raise £10,000 for the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow.
It follows their 2010 trip when they climbed the UK's 10 highest mountains in just six days to raise more than £7000 for the cancer centre.
But Gordon – with his three Beatson Caledonian Challenge team-mates – is not one to shy away from hard work.
"I've got a chronic fear of going underwater," says Gordon, who is dad to Euan. "Even in the shower I hate getting my face wet so I'm petrified.
"But it wouldn't be a challenge if it wasn't taking us out of our comfort zone.
"None of us has had any experience of canoeing before this.
"We're still not as fit as we want to be but there's still a few more weeks."
Gordon said the six-month training regime for the 165-mile journey was tough.
"We had to capsize the canoe and practise rescuing each other," he says. "The first time I ended up with my head bobbing under the water even though I was meant to be the one doing the saving.
"It was only for seconds but felt like hours.
"Eventually I got out the boat and stood up. And the water seemed to only be up to my waist but that's how easy I panic."
Gordon, along with Fraser Hamilton, 43, from Rutherglen, David Cowan, 26, from Shawlands and Richard Gowan, 33, of Cumbernauld, will start in Inverness on June 23.
They will travel down Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal carrying all their own food, drink and equipment, then cycle from Fort William to Glasgow, finishing at the Squinty Bridge on June 26.
David Hill, a senior instructor at Castle Semple Watersports in Lochwinnoch, is joining them.
As reported in the Evening Times in June 2010, the fundraisers organised a '10 In 2010 Challenge' with the aim of climbing 8865m – 17m higher than Mount Everest.
OVER the course of the adventure, they walked 50 miles, cycled 145 miles and tackled Scotland's 10 highest Munros.
"We raised over £7k for The Beatson Institute and this time we hope to reach £10k."
The Beatson is close to their heart. Sales worker Gordon's sister-in-law was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and his former boss suffered from leukaemia.
Fraser's dad John died from the disease.
"Choosing The Beatson Institute was an easy one for us," Gordon says. "It's had an effect on all of the team doing the challenge in some way.
"We've had a close relationship with the staff there since our first challenge."
Gordon said the support from local businesses had been "overwhelming".
He said: "It's enabled us to focus on the training and raising money and not having to worry about everything ahead we need to accomplish."
During the winter of 2010, comedian Fred MacAulay and TV presenter Dougie Vipond took on the kayak section of the challenge in aid of Sport's Relief.
The pair endured freezing temperatures during Scotland's worst winter in 30 years.
Fred wished the team well but added: "I'm delighted that someone is prepared to follow in our watery footsteps.
"Because my memory is still working I'll never do it again.
"The trip was great, but one of us – no names – snored so loudly that I couldn't sleep.
"So good luck to the four lads and a wee bit more. Pack earplugs."
rachel.loxton@ heraldandtimes.co.uk
To keep up with the BCC team's progress connect with them on Facebook at the Beatson Charity Challenge 2012 or follow them on Twitter @2012BCC.
They are giving one lucky person who donates on their Just Giving page the chance to win an iPad which has been donated by one of their sponsors.
To get behind them visit www.justgiving.com/bcc2012
