Our patron and ambassadors

Donnie Campbell

Donnie is the record holder for a complete round of Scotland’s 282 Munros in 31 days, climbing 126,143m and running 833 miles. He is also one of Scotland’s top running coaches. His main sport is ultra mountain running and has won races all over the world, representing team GB at the world trail running championships and also running across the Namib desert in 9 days. 

Growing up in the Isle of Skye, Donnie is used to being in the outdoors and surrounded by nature. He joined the Royal Marine Commando at age 17 and went to Iraq at age 18, facing many challenges at a young age. Donnie left the marines to study Sports Coaching and Development and wanted to use his enthusiasm and coaching skills to encourage other people to reach their goals.

Donnie loves to help people and this can be seen in his charity work raising over £22,000 for a number of local charities on the Isle of Skye where he was born and brought up and was part of the local Mountain Rescue Team. His enthusiasm to help people get more physically active and achieve their goals while having fun led him to set up Get Active Running.  

Donnie on Venture Trust:

“By offering the right support and opportunities to learn out in the wild, I believe everyone working with Venture Trust has the chance to rise from their challenges and become the best version of themselves”.   

Lee Craigie – former British mountain bike champion

Lee is a shining example of what hard work, determination and self-belief can achieve. As a sportswoman and role model, as well as founding member of The Adventure Syndicate, Lee is well placed to inspire young people who may not have had the best start in life. Things have come full circle, as many years previous, Lee worked for Venture Trust. She graduated from Strathclyde University with a degree in Outdoor Education. She freelanced for Venture Trust on the residential course in Applecross and, for the first time, was exposed to a team of outdoor instructors who felt the same way as she did about the personal and social development aspects of the profession.

Lee is also part of the The Adventure Syndicate. A not-for-profit organisation who use the inspiring stories of women adventuring by bike to encourage our audience to push their perceived limitations.

Lee on Venture Trust:

“The experiences delivered to participants was second to none and I’ve no doubt we changed lives for the better as a result. I thoroughly support the work that they do and have personal experience of its value.”

Professor Peter Higgins

Peter Higgins is a Professor of Outdoor and Environmental Education at the University of Edinburgh, and is the only personal chair in the field in Europe. He holds high-level instructional awards in a wide range of outdoor activities, and teaches practical and academic aspects of postgraduate outdoor and environmental education programmes. He is a member of national and international advisory groups and EU and UNESCO educational projects, and has advised the UK and Scottish Governments on outdoor and environmental education, access to the countryside and related environmental issues. He has conducted extensive research and published widely in these fields.