Donna Louise Armstrong on mission to support veterans

The Lochwinnoch woman has a special motivation for her fundraising endeavours – the memory of her nephew Kyle, who was just 21 when he was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan.

Along with two comrades, he died in 2009 after their vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device in Helmand province.

“We were all absolutely broken when we heard the news,” said Donna, who is the manager of an osteopathic clinic in Linwood. “We were very proud of him.”

When meeting Donna, the first thing that catches your eye is her welcoming smile. That and her smooth accent, infused with undertones that tell of 26 years spent living in South Africa.

She has had a lifelong affiliation with the armed forces. Her dad Jim was a member of the Royal Corps of Signals and she was born on a military base in Laarbruch, which was part of the old West Germany at the time.

Kyle’s enlistment brought her even closer to the army.

He was serving with the Parachute Regiment when he was killed.

Donna received the President’s Award from Sir Alistair Irwin, of PoppyScotland (Image: Sourced)

Kyle was proud to be part of the ‘airborne brotherhood’ and, a few months after his death, Donna made a promise.

“I decided then that I wanted to give back,” she said. “I didn’t serve but I wanted to help Kyle’s brothers.”

Donna began by raising money for active soldiers. However, interaction with them was rarely face-to-face, due to their deployment.

As a result, she became more involved with the veterans community, which she now fondly calls her family.

“What I was doing was hands on, helping people I knew and had a relationship with,” she said.

Donna’s fundraising activities over the past 11 years include everything from zip lining to recording a song. She even took part in a burlesque calendar photoshoot.

That last venture, she says, was her least favourite.

“Despite it being an empowering experience, it was the most frightening thing because it was so out of my comfort zone,” she said.

Dressing up as Paddington Bear helps to coin in cash for the Homeless Veterans Project (Image: Sourced)

“I’d rather jump out of a plane again.”

Dressing up for charity has become Donna’s trademark.

The moment she steps into one of her costumes, a new persona takes over.

When fundraising for PoppyScotland, she becomes a giant flower. When the Kiltwalk is on, she turns into a blue Wendy house. When gathering cash for the charity she co-founded, the Homeless Veterans Project, Paddington Bear makes an appearance.

“It’s not only about raising money,” said Donna. “It’s about goodwill and raising the profile of the charity.”

Donna is happy to devote so much of her energy to raising cash for veterans as she knows every penny collected will be put to good use.

At a young age, she witnessed her father’s struggle to settle into civilian life upon their return to Scotland.

“When a veteran leaves the army, I feel he is treated like a piece of equipment,” she said. “When he’s leaving, he’s obsolete, he’s basically a decommissioned weapon.”

Meeting rugby legend Doddie Weir while dressed as a Wendy house was a highlight (Image: Sourced)

Some veterans end up addicted to drugs and left alone to deal with any physical or mental effects of deployment.

That’s where the Homeless Veterans Project comes in.

Donna is an area co-ordinator for PoppyScotland and received the President’s Award – the charity’s highest honour – in 2021.

However, co-founding the Homeless Veterans Project gave her the chance to provide hands-on services.

“We don’t only do the fundraising, we do the groundwork as well,” she added. “We do the outreach and we look after the veterans.

“I really enjoy doing that – making a difference to one person’s life.”

The Homeless Veterans Project provides funding for temporary council accommodation and can pay for bed and breakfast if needed.

Paddington Bear, having been homeless, is the ideal mascot for the charity.

Among those impressed by Donna’s efforts is Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur, who said veterans can face specific challenges such as finding suitable housing and employment when transitioning from military life.

Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur is among those to support Donna’s efforts (Image: Sourced)

“Donna and others like her have an invaluable role to play in our communities,” he added.

Hazel Mollison, of PoppyScotland, is also full of praise for Donna.

She said: “Donna’s commitment and dedication have been extraordinary, both in driving the success of her local poppy appeal and her tireless and creative fundraising activities.”

Although she has won numerous awards, dressed up in the craziest of costumes and participated in the wildest of activities, Donna remains humble.

“I’m not a veteran, I’m not a wealthy person, I’m not a professional fundraiser,” she said. “I’m just an ordinary person who cares and is willing to give a little bit of her time.”

After improving the lives of dozens of local veterans, Donna also believes that anyone can bring about change in their own way.

“Everybody can do something, no matter how small,” she added. “Somebody can put a pound in a tin. Somebody can share a post on Facebook or hand out a flyer.

“I think that everybody should do something. If we can’t make life better for other people, why are we here?”

For more information on Donna’s charity, visit www.homelessveteransproject.org.