Bryn has been a dedicated volunteer for years, and in September 2025, he went several steps further and took part in our first-ever Venture Round Scotland Challenge.
I’ve been volunteering with Venture Scotland for eight years since 2017. As well as the core volunteer work – myriad activity days with a host of different groups and sporadic bothy trips (I’ve not made it up to Glen Etive for a while…need to rectify that!) – I’ve also carried out a few other activities in support of the organisation.
Those have included delivering computers and laptops to those most in need of staying connected during those tough Covid times via a VS partnership with a like-minded charity, dropping off and picking up the minibus for regular checks at the garage, doing stock-takes of outdoor equipment at the VS base in Norton Park, and writing the history of Venture Scotland, over a two-year period, for our 35th birthday celebrations in 2023.
But taking part in the Venture Round Scotland initiative was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities I have been involved in during my time with VS.
Most importantly, it was a great success in terms of raising much-needed funds and big congratulations to everyone who contributed to that fantastic achievement. My own was a small part of it – barely 3% of the total – but knowing that every mile run, walked or cycled counts, that you are part of something bigger and that every penny raised goes to exactly where it’s needed for young people certainly adds to the motivation.
As someone who tries to go for a couple of shortish runs a week and does plenty of walking, I was already thinking about registering for the Edinburgh 10K race. But once I became aware of Venture Round Scotland, rather than just doing it for my own benefit, I realised I could help others as well by running the race as part of a wider challenge.
I hadn’t done a proper 10K for about 15 years, with two creaking knees and one dodgy ankle – which required surgery a couple of years ago – a challenge to any great athletic ambition. There was a certain amount of trepidation involved in committing to a month of relatively intense exercise, but knowing I was doing it for such a vital cause made me feel a lot better about it and kept me going on days when I maybe wasn’t quite feeling it!
I ran 10K for the first time in a long while on the first day of the challenge and then tried to stay disciplined – doing two more 10K runs on subsequent weekends – to get me used to the distance again, as well as some smaller runs during the week. That all helped build my confidence before the Edinburgh 10K on 21 September. I set myself a target and with mercifully good weather, I managed to beat it by a couple of minutes, which made reaching the finish line at Murrayfield Stadium that bit more enjoyable.
What perhaps surprised me was I didn’t stop with the race. I found that a few days’ rest, I was keen to get back out and put some more miles in the legs. It wasn’t just running. I made a point of cycling small distances locally, as well as stepping up my daily walking. I ended up running and walking around 100km (60-odd miles) over the month. My knees and legs were certainly feeling it by the end, but it was all worthwhile.
It got me outside even more than usual, with the subsequent benefits to health and wellbeing. I would thoroughly recommend anyone getting involved in the next Venture Round Scotland, not only to maybe give yourself a personal goal to reach and raise vital money for VS, but also to boost your own physical fitness and mental health.
I enjoyed it so much I even signed up for another 10K a couple of weeks after the challenge finished and knocked another minute off my previous time. Happy days!
We’re in awe of the incredible people who took part in Venture Round Scotland in 2025, and all those who gave to friends, family members or directly to Venture Scotland during September – thank you all!
To anyone feeling inspired by Bryn’s achievements this year, if you’d like to take part in VRS26, you can pop your name down to be the first to hear about next year’s challenge by emailing katie.bruce@venturescotland.org.uk! We can’t wait to hear from you!
And sign up here to hear from Venture Scotland and see the impact of your taking part, in action!