Every day the pregnant teens and teenage mums in Freetown face a mama of a challenge.

I have decided to take on my own challenge, doing the 3 Peaks in 36 hours, at the end of May, to raise money for a project called 2YoungLives.

In an area of Sierra Leone where 1 in 10 pregnant teenagers die around the time of birth, mostly due to abandonment and lack of adult support, 2YoungLives provides girls with a committed and loving mentor to guide and advise them through pregnancy, and support them to run a small business.

So far all girls have had safe births and the majority are able to support themselves financially, making them less vulnerable to gender-based violence and subsequent pregnancies, as well as increasing their chances of going back to school or doing vocational training. Thriving, not just surviving.