Where It All Began

I joined Beaver Scouts when I was six years old. I loved going every week and trying new activities and doing badge work. In fact I loved getting the badges and before long I had gained every activity and challenge badge and I was awarded my Chief Scout Bronze Award.

Moving Up To Cubs

Aged eight I was invested into The Cub Scouts and wanted took with me the same level of ambition to achieve all of the badges - 35 to be precise. I showed huge dedication and commitment to my badge work and took up activities such as karate and figure skating which I thoroughly enjoyed. So much so that after a rather tough and strenuous grading I gained my black belt in 2013 and also I won many medals both nationally and internationally for my skating. By the age of ten I had achieved all my badges including The Chief Scout Silver Award.

Out Of This World

I moved up to Scouts and I was determined to try and achieve all 72 Activity Badges. I knew I had a tough job ahead of me but I was committed and wanted to fulfill my goal. One of my favourite badges was Astronautics. I learned so much about space and space travel plus I designed a habitat for living on the moon and even built a Saturn V rocket. I was lucky enough to have my badge presented to me by then little known UK astronaut Tim Peake at the 2013 Space Conference in Glasgow.

I was so inspired by Tim Peake and his mission into space that when Blue Peter launched a competition to design his mission patch I decided to enter. I researched ideas my design, drew it then sent it off. Unbelievably out of 3500 entries, my design won and I was off to meet Tim Peake again and also film for Blue Peter.

I was even invited to 10 Downing Street for Tim's homecoming reception and I got to meet some amazing people.

By the end of Scouts I had achieved all 72 badges, plus my Chief Scout Gold Award, along with some fantastic accomplishments under my belt including gaining RYA awards in sailing, windsurfing and power boating plus Discover and Passport awards in canoeing and kayaking. I also took part in some amazing activities including parascending, gliding, dragon boating, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, mechanics, survival techniques and camping to name but a few. I even learned to ride a unicycle and juggle for the circus skills badge.

Onwards and Upwards

I am now in Explorers and I am Assistant Scout Youth Commissioner in the Greater Manchester West District. I am also working my way through the Explorer badges and already I have achieved all the NICAS Awards in climbing and I am a qualified pool lifeguard with full first aid training.

I now give inspirational talks and workshops to groups about my incredible journey through Scouting and how badge work has led to some incredible achievements. I inspire other young people to make their own goals in life and be positive about achieving them. On the back of this I won a competition to spend 24 hours in the wild with TV presenter Steve Backshall.

2019 Expedition

Just through doing talks I have raised just over £1000 to go towards my trip and also my equipment. I will be doing an 85 mile twelve day wilderness trek at The Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I will have to carry all my equipment, cook all my meals and sleep out along the trail. I will also complete some conservation work along the way to do service for the Scout ranch plus I will visit the 24th World Scout Jamboree to meet fellow Scouts from around the globe.

This will go towards my Queen's Scout Award which is the highest award in Scouting. It is presented at either Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace.

Any donations will help me to achieve my goal and I hope to continue to inspire others to achieve their own goals and dreams by joining youth organisations such as Scouts but also by working hard, being positive and saying yes to every opportunity as you never know where those opportunities will lead.or who you will meet. My mantra for every person is:

Thank you so much for reading this.