I’m the DofE County Coordinator for Essex County Council, heading up one of the largest DofE licenses in the UK. Back when I was young I experienced my bronze, silver and gold award (gold in the French Pyrenees where we forgot our tent poles so ended up sleeping in a refuge on the mountain summit). We managed to pull it back and successfully completed the expedition. DofE expeditions show you what real life is about, away from the comforts and protection of our day to day life. Challenge is addictive. I believe overcoming struggles on my DofE expeditions paved the way for me, and inspired me to complete the Rome Marathon, climb Kilimanjaro, ride my motorbike from the UK to Mongolia and travel overland throughout South America. Expeditions are now my life and I strive to make it possible for young people from any background to experience DofE. I have recently led for the British Exploring Society in the Himalayas. I loved hearing the Duke of Edinburgh’s 1958 speech at a BES dinner where he talked about expeditions and DofE. It’s a must-listen! Thanks to DofE for giving me this life!