I don't know why I signed up for my Bronze DofE. It was 1984, my family wasn't particularly active or interested in the outdoors, but something about it caught my imagination. And that was the start of a life-long love of outdoor adventures.

Bronze, then Silver, then Gold. The DofE opened up a whole world of new opportunities for me taking quite a shy girl who'd led a protected life to the top of mountains and to the distant shores of Lake Michigan where I taught sailing, to working for the DofE in Australia.

I led Award groups in the UK and found my dream job at DofE head office in Windsor House before love distracted me and I headed off on another adventure.

37 years on, I am now supporting my son as he embarks on his Bronze. What I love is that my children can't see any reason why they wouldn't or shouldn't do it, it's a rite of passage. The Award changed my life and I hope it gives my children as much as it has given to me.

What great foresight to set up the scheme and what a amazing legacy to leave.