The Details: Don McLester Adventuring Stupidity Scholarship
Also known as the ‘Don Memorial Asshat Award (except he won’t fucking die)’.
This is a brand new scholarship dedicated to the pursuit of adventuring stupidity. In its first year the winner gets $5000 to spend on any of The Adventurists‘ adventures in 2025.
The deadline for applications is 30th April.
1. Essential details
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Who the hell is Don McLester?
A legend of adventure. And our chum.
Don has taken part in ten adventures with us since 2012, and his wife Sarah has done three. They live in the US of A and decided they wanted to help other people do stupid adventures because of the massive impact it's had on their lives. Mostly good impact apparently (after it stops hurting).
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What can the $5000 be spent on?
All directs costs of adventuring
Including flights, relevant gear and clothing, visas, internal travel and all relevant on the road costs such as accommodation, food, drink and vehicle repairs.
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Which adventures does this apply to?
All adventures in 2025
You can go on a Monkey Run by yourself or split the funds to help team mates with their costs and do a Rickshaw Run or Mongol Rally. Check out full list below.
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Who can apply?
Anyone. With one exception.
If you’ve got a trust fund or Daddy pays your rent even though you’re 37, it’s time for you to press the back button. This scholarship is for anyone that heeds the call to stupidity but is a bit short on cash to make it work.
2. How to apply
We might have extra questions for you because this is the first year of the scholarship and we're making it up as we go along. So look out for emails from us in the run up to the deadline.
3. Important dates
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Applications open
Now
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Deadline to apply
30th April
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Winner announced
6th May
4. The $5000 question
The winner can take part in an adventure solo, or recruit team mates for a Rickshaw Run or Mongol Rally and split the cash with team members.
The money can be spent on anything directly related to taking part in the adventure. That includes things like flights, relevant gear and clothing, visas, food and drink on the road, vehicle repairs and 'express roadside fines'.
You can't spend it on anything illegal or unrelated to the adventure.
What if $5000 doesn't cover everything?
What if the winner doesn't spend all the money?
5. Eligible adventures - 2025 prize
- Monkey Run Mongolia July 2025
- Rickshaw Run Himalaya July 2025**
- Mongol Rally 2025
- Rickshaw Run Sri Lanka August 2025
- Rickshaw Run Himalaya August 2025**
- Rickshaw Run India September 2025
- Monkey Run Mongolia September 2025
- Monkey Run Peru September 2025**
- Rickshaw Run Sri Lanka October 2025
- Monkey Run Morocco October 2025
- Rickshaw Run South India October 2025**
- Wallah Run Pioneers November 2025
- Rickshaw Run South India November 2025
** These adventures are either full or nearly full so availability might be limited.
Head to our home page and have a poke around to find out more about the adventures.
6. What's the catch?
OK there is one catch.
Ah fuck it, let's call it two.
There are two catches...
You have to be up for taking some photos and videos of your adventure. We don't expect anything fancy, just a willingness to make an effort with your phone camera. We'll give you plenty of tips and info beforehand.
The second catch is that you have to be up for being featured on our social media channels, our website and in press coverage. You'll be helping to spread the word about the scholarship so we can reach more people when the 2026 applications open.
Doing a bit of promo in exchange for thousands of dollars to spend on seeking chaos? It's the deal of the century. And we'll make you look tall in all the photos, we promise.
If you have some kind of ethical objection to helping us promote the scholarship, like a social media vegan who throws paint on people taking selfies, please for the sake of all the adventure Gods old and new, don't apply.
7. Danger Warning
Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in past Adventurists' adventures have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled and even lost their life.
This is not a glorified holiday, it's an unsupported adventure and so by its very nature extremely risky. You really are on your own and you really are putting both your health and life at risk. This is what makes them adventures.
The winner of the scholarship will also need to sign an extra disclaimer to cover the terms and conditions of the funding and to confirm that the scholarship isn't to blame if they decide to take part in a dangerous adventure and end up getting injured.
