Victor Titorenko: You will normally find Victor working in a Quarry but we are lucky that he has the time to lead our trips. He has an incredible sense of humour and is highly regarded by many participants who have traveled with him.
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?
I was on a fundraising trip, run by DA, in aid of Beating Bowel Cancer in 2007 to Mount Toubkal. The leader commented that I have the right qualities for the job, that I would fit in well with the team and have never looked back.
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA?
For me the best so far has got to be “A Bridge too far 2010” for Help for Heroes. As an ex Para myself, to finish at Arnhem with Paratroopers falling from the sky’s “got a right lump in my throat”!
Which trip do you most look forward to?
All of them!! No one trip is alike.
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
That would be The Great Wall of China, awesome views, fascinating country with a history to match, closely followed by the extension trip to see the “Terracotta Warriors” which are absolutely amazing.
Which charity has the best supporters?
I have to say “Help for Heroes”, once a soldier, always a soldier.
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose?
That would have to be Russia my father’s homeland, a beautiful vast country just waiting to be explored, particularly the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier?
Gaffa tape, everybody knows it can mend everything except a broken heart or a bad haircut.
Jen Williams: Jen is a vibrant leader, who is supportive, confident and fun in equal measure! She has traveled extensively and leads many of our overseas trips.
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?
I was a client to Peru back in 2004 for Action Medical Research, where I met the crew and a while later was offered the chance to lead some trips due to my background and qualifications.
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
My first Kilimanjaro summit! And Iceland – crew, Glayva and hot springs!
Which trip do you most look forward to?
The Sahara, it is so beautiful and our Berber crew are truly amazing even the camels! Also Tanzania, Kilimanjaro for the extreme challenge and wonderful singing by the local support crew!
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
Lions and cubs in Tanzania, Condors in Peru, sunrise over Mawenzi peak on summit climb of Kilimanjaro.
Which charity has the best supporters?!
Action Medical Research and MacMillan Cancer Support have the most clients but all our clients are simply the best!
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
Italy.
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
Multi tool – great for jammed walking poles, cleaning nails and opening wine!
Dave Davies: A fantastic doctor who resides in South Wales. We rely on his fantastic photography skills to fill our brochure most years!
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?
I was introduced to DA by Helen Jenkins who was already working as a DA Doctor and had been a friend since medical school.
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
My most memorable trip for DA was a Kilimanjaro climb for the Alzheimer's Society in 2009 when despite awful conditions including a blizzard on the last night and lots of altitude related illness we managed to get all but one of the clients to the summit in good shape.
Which trip do you most look forward to?
I love Peru; the Inca trail for its history and that initial breath taking view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate but also the Lares trek - higher, remote, stunning scenery and the opportunity to see much more Andean village life.
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
The most spectacular thing I've seen on a DA trip are the Simien mountains in Ethiopia. A trek along an escarpment deeper than the Grand Canyon with only Gelada baboons for company and the chance to spot the endangered Simien wolf.
Which charity has the best supporters?!
I'm going to sit well and truly on the fence here and say that I take my hat off to everyone I've ever met fundraising on a DA trip. Raising the money isn't easy and people deserve a lot of respect for pushing themselves well outside their comfort zones.
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
I live in the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in West Wales so why should I want to move. I'm still waiting for Discover Adventure to do a trip down here!
Jo Bradshaw: Jo has long been a firm favourite with Discover Adventure participants as she has worked both in the office and as a leader. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and a fun traveling companion.
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?I was first a participant on a Cycle Peru Challenge for Asthma UK in 2004 and after 2 further challenges across the world, DA took me on as crew and I worked my way up from there!
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
The Action Medical Research London to Paris Route 2 in 2009. A fantastic crew and fabulous group of fundraisers, leading 300 cyclists down the Champs Elysees was a very special moment!
Which trip do you most look forward to?
Kilimanjaro, a very special mountain topped off with a fantastic local crew.
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
Seeing the sun rising over Everest which was capped with a hat of cloud, whilst descending from Kala Patar in November 2010.
Which charity has the best supporters?!
Ohhh, now that's a toughie! Anyone who takes the time to raise funds for fantastic causes and challenges themselves is a winner in my books!
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
New Zealand, fantastic mountains, coastline and laid back way of life!
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
My thermal mug and peppermint tea
Greg Brunt: Greg is another popular leader, who has worked with us for over 11 years. He is normally found Policing the streets but takes our groups worldwide when he can.
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?
I completed the Macmillan Sahara trek with a friend in 1999 and we raised over £5000, that's where my potential to become a leader was spotted!
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
Chilcotin Mountains, Canada in 2000. It was a proper adventure, camping in the rugged and true wilderness. Backed up by actual cowboys and all our kit was on pack horses, one of the many sites not to be forgotten was watching the Bald Eagles fishing on the side of Spruce Lake.
Which trip do you most look forward to?
The Inca Trail, even though I have done this trek 16 times, it still never fails to fulfill. Walking through the sun gate into the Machu Picchu sanctuary is simply a stunning end!
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
When I summited on Kilimanjaro, arriving at the summit in -28° I looked up and saw that half the sky was pitch black with a full moon on one side and on the other half of the planet the sun was rising.
Which charity has the best supporters?!
I would have to say Macmillan Cancer Support, Action Medical Research and Great Ormond Street Hospital all have amazing repeat clients; my hat goes off to them.
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
Vancouver BC, I think I would look awesome as a Mountie!!
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
I never ever go anywhere without my stash of Jelly Babies!
Melissa Tate: Mel is normally busy teaching outdoor education in an FE College. She has been leading our trips for over 5 years now and a regular on our London to Paris Cycle Challenges and UK training weekends.
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?
I received a call from a chap in the office a good few years ago now to see if I was still working as a Leader and if I was looking for work.
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
It has to be the Battlefield Bike ride for Help for Heroes. It was such a humbling experience to help the injured soldiers, some without limbs and some with such debilitating injuries achieve so much. Totally inspiring!
Which trip do you most look forward to?
I look forward to fitting in any trips I can with my part-time teaching job.
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
700 hundred cyclists heading for the Eifel Tower!
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
Ooo a difficult one, dare I say it maybe even the UK………. To a little cottage in the country where I could go running and cycling in the hills from my door, grow more veg and have chickens…… how twee I know!
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
Always pack some of my homemade goodies, either flapjack, va va voom brownies or 1000 calorie cake! Some lovely lip balm comes in handy too. . . .
David Cooke: Dave is an exceptional doctor, based in South Wales, who between rugby matches and fishing manages to join our trips a few times a year. He is a big fan of trekking in Nepal but is at home on both our cycling and trekking trips.
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?
DA ran a trip for a group of 10 of us to Kilimanjaro in 2007 to raise money for a local hospice charity in Pembrokeshire. I was so impressed with how the trip was run that I called the office on my return to volunteer (after lots of encouragement from the trip leaders).
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
Everest Base Camp - truly incredible mountain views too numerous to list, and the Nepali people are so cool. You have to go there to appreciate the place!
Which trip do you most look forward to?
My next one of course!
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
Difficult – so many varied memories - I think the panoramic view from Kala Patar takes some beating.
Which charity has the best supporters?!
The charity running my last trip and those running my next trip are pretty good also.
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
From Pembrokeshire I would probably move to North West Wales, close to the beaches and the hills where I grew up, if they wouldn’t have me back, I guess Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands on a 40‘ yacht wouldn’t be too shabby.
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
Never!! ---The DA kit list is faultless and should be adhered to, strictly, at all times! (Come to think of it I did forget my passport once and that wasn’t on the list – it also made everything easier so I guess I’d have to go for that!)
Dave Matthews: A much loved DA Leader for over 10 years who has lead a wide variety of trips from Jurassic Coast to Andean Trails in Peru...
Who introduced you to Discover Adventure or how did you come to work for us?
I was a client on a trip in the Sahara in 2000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief and was recruited by Darren Nicholson who was the Leader.
Where was your most memorable trip so far for DA? Can you say why!!??
It would have to be the Costa Rica Trek, the jungle camps, being woken by Howler monkeys and white water rafting, Grade 3 and 4 rapids on the Rio Pacuare!
Which trip do you most look forward to?
The Sahara - it has so many memorable elements to it and it is so nice and warm.
What’s the most spectacular thing you have seen on a DA trip?
A Quetzal in Costa Rica then Ama Dablam and the Khumbu Ice fall in Nepal.
Which charity has the best supporters?!
Very difficult as they are all so nice but nudging slightly ahead - Macmillan Cancer Support.
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose? Doesn’t have to be a DA destination
Vancouver - all those outdoor gear shops.
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
A small feather pillow
Hannah Butterworth: Dr Hannah, when she's not caring for her patients in Devon, you'll find her ready to administer on a DA trip, with a smile never far from her lips!
Who introduced you to DA or how did you come to work for DA?I was introduced by a friend who had done a trip with DA and I went off to Peru for three months not knowing what to expect. I have met some inspiring people and really discovered some adventures.
Where was your most memorable trip for DA so far?
The first time I climbed Kilimanjaro. I said I would never do it again, the altitude symptoms, the cold and the tiredness were soon forgotten and replaced by adrenaline, exhilaration and an interest in altitude medicine. After six ascents I can't wait to go back there again.
Which trip do you most look forward to?
All of them!
What’s the most spectacular thing you’ve seen on a DA trip?
River rafting through a cloud of butterflies in Costa Rica.
Which charity has the best supporters?
Help for Heroes and The Firefighters charity have very passionate and loyal supporters.
If you had to move there where in the world would you choose?
A farmhouse on Dartmoor.
Is there something you always pack in your bag to make life a little easier that’s not on the kit list?!
Marmite. Never go anywhere without it!