About 12 years ago, Kieran and Lewis met on their Venture Scotland programme, applying and getting into Raleigh International together and today they set off for their next adventure together on the Camino de Santiago, starting in Saint Jean Pierre de Port on the French side of the Pyrenees, and walking the 500 miles to Santiago de Compostela.
“We’re doing our own version of a Venture Scotland challenge weekend, but taking it even longer and seeing the world because of it, and none of it would have been possible if we hadn’t taken those small steps with VS in the first place, to figure out that we were even able to do it! And the fact that we still love doing it after all this time just proves how transferable all those skills that me and Keiran learnt at VS, are.”
Kieran and Lewis in their VS days, pictured with Brian (L) and the full volunteer training troupe (R)
Lewis and Keiran had been on programme together for the first couple of weeks but hadn’t really spoken or found anything in common. That all changed when they went on an easy trek day, heading down a slope near the Devil’s Staircase and Lewis misjudged a jump over the river and found himself in the water. Feeling a little panicky and wondering how he ended up in this situation, he felt a big hand grabbing his arm and a voice telling him to hold on. He looked up at Kieran, immediately knowing that he trusted him to help, they held onto one another as Lewis was pulled out of the water; and the entire walk back, they didn’t stop talking. Taking on the challenge of Raleigh International together really cemented their friendship – especially representing as the two Scotsmen in their group!
Keiran, who has done the Camino de Santiago trek before says, ‘The first time I took on the Camino de Santiago I was feeling a bit defeated by life; I had been working to get some savings together but came to the realisation that it hadn’t made me feel much better in myself, and I didn’t want to spend it on useless stuff that doesn’t actually make me feel any better, so I reflected – when was the last time that I actually felt good? And it was Venture Scotland and Raleigh that I remembered, specifically the trekking elements. But it was October; so I decided against the West Highland Way or anything in the UK and settled on southern Europe, I did a bit of research and there was the Camino de Santiago.
And it helped. Physical activity is a positive coping strategy – walking in unfamiliar territory with unfamiliar people, but all united by a common purpose, even if that purpose is just to get from one place to another. It makes a big difference, and it feels like what we experienced at Venture Scotland, in a way.
So, we’d chatted about doing it together just before the pandemic hit and the world shut down, so it fell by the wayside for a couple of years, but we’re now in a place where we can go.’
“This is the best reset button that I could think of to be honest, not only are we doing it for ourselves, but we could raise a bit of awareness and even money for VS, and show that if we can do it, then anyone can do it – and if someone can do it better – feel free, or join us! Do something else, do it bigger, do it better! We can show people that anything’s possible as long as you take that first little step.”
Lewis, who is trekking this route for the first time stated ‘At the start of the year Kieran had noticed that I had been feeling really low, and it got really bad. So, he suggested a camping trip or a wee getaway, checking that I still had a rucksack and boots, and suggested that I could do with a walk – and I thought a day and a night in the Pentlands? – and he said ‘…no, I was thinking more like France, and then we can walk across Spain…’ and here I am a few days before my trip! I’m still not entirely sure that I know what I’ve signed myself up for, but in that true Venture Scotland way – it feels less intimidating than joining my Outdoor Programme Leader on a drizzly beach with a bunch of other young folk for a kick about around 12 years ago!
And as much as we’re going to do this for Venture Scotland, we’re looking forward to doing it for us, too. I want to get back to basics, and what better way to do that than by doing the thing that showed me my own confidence and changed my life in the first place?’
Follow Lewis and Kieran’s adventure on their Justgiving page where you can see their route, and the updates that they send through. You can also support them, and Venture Scotland’s work with young people by making a donation here, too.
You could join them by setting up your own 500-mile challenge – whether it’s a personal challenge that you take on throughout the month, or a team challenge with friends or colleagues over 24 hours, you could go the extra mile to support young people this year.