My children have benefited from participation in all levels of the DofE Award. Teamwork, resilience and social responsibility are among the skills they developed through the scheme, whether at school or within Keyworth Explorer Scouts. I know their experiences will echo throughout their adult lives. They were fortunate, they had no financial barriers to their participation, others are not so lucky.

To ensure that all young people have access and benefit from the scheme, I have decided to accept the DofE Diamond Challenge and set myself and three seasoned DofE companions an adventure challenge that is new to us all. We will climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, in under 12 hours on 25 June 2016. The route is 24-miles long, and includes 1,585m of ascent. We have never climbed these hills before. For two of us our knees may never be the same again. I gained the bronze award too many years ago to remember, my son Aidan has silver and is well on the way to completing gold. Andrew Heptinstall is a qualified assessor for DofE expeditions and his son Daniel has also gained his silver award

Sponsor me and help transform the lives of vulnerable young people.