DofE gave me the adventures I could only else have dreamed of. From navigating through snowstorms on practice expeditions in Snowdonia to taking a water stop by a melting glacier in the Julian Alps, I still look back amazed that it was me who got to do those things. The award taught me so much, but most important was how wonderful the feeling of camaraderie is. It is a very special thing to know that no matter what comes your way, you never have to face it alone when you are part of a team. That is a feeling I continue to try and foster in relationships in my life today.

On my gold expedition I managed to break my ankle and ended up being air lifted off the side of the mountain in Slovenia. It happened just after we had stopped for lunch and checked in with our leaders, so we were now the last group. My poor team mates not only had to rush to catch up with the leaders, but then trek back up the mountain to me and our bags. They spent 6 hours climbing around trying to find signal for the SAT phone to call mountain rescue and then to wave down the helicopter through the dense forest. Not once did they grumble and spirits remained high even though we were all too aware they would still have a couple of hours hike to camp that night. My team were incredible that day, but so were the other teams in our group who made sure their camp was set up and their dinner cooked for when they eventually arrived. Although in pain and unable to walk, I never felt scared that day as I knew the team wouldn’t leave me and would find a way through, without any resentment. We had completed the bronze and silver award together and I very much see it that they helped carry me over the final hurdle between me and the gold award.

I only wish I could go back and relive all of my DofE years.