From the age of 14 to 18 I completed the silver, bronze and gold DofE award. The award unlocked hidden parts of my character that I never realised I had, took me to beautiful places and allowed me to obtain new skills which would benefit me in adult life. There is no doubt that completing this award has shaped me into the person I am today.

The award has inspired me to take on new challenges personally and for charity. Most recently I walked 5 marathons over 5 days, raising £4,000.

The expedition was the most daunting but exhilarating part of the award. After completing bronze I said to myself “I’m never doing that again” but the laughter and the fun outweighed the hard work. I wasn’t fortunate to meet Prince Philip however collecting my gold award is an unforgettable memory.

I would encourage anyone to give this award a go. I haven’t looked back with any regrets.