The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has shaped my life. From my first Bronze expedition in Lancashire to achieving my Gold Award and being lucky enough to talk to HRH at the ceremony at St James’ Palace I developed a love for adventure, learning and volunteering that has underpinned my entire life. I am now a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets with responsibility for all outdoor activities, I am an expedition supervisor & Gold assessor and am a course director for leader courses. I have many memories from my own personal D of E journey and all the young people I have supported over the years. One that will never leave me was my Gold residential that I undertook in Cyprus volunteering at a cancer hospice for terminal patients. The compassion, humility and self resilience I took away from this experience paved the way for my adult years. His legacy lives on in all of us who have completed awards, through the change in society this has brought about and through D of E leaders who will passionately keep the scheme alive.