I'm taking on the Big Stroll (11.3 miles) to support The ICAS Foundation, a charity that changed my life.

Growing up in a low-income household, with my mum living with Lupus and my dad acting as her full-time carer, I experienced first-hand the barriers that can stand between talented young people and professional careers. A career in accountancy and finance felt out of reach for me and I experienced anxiety, imposter syndrome and lack of confidence in my abilities and potential to have a successful career in accountancy and achieve a degree.

However, the ICAS Foundation helped change that, through their ‘Nurturing Future Leaders in Accountancy’ programme it gave me confidence to believe that I do belong in the profession and even a council estate kid like me who grew up in a low income family can have a successful career in accountancy.

Thanks to foundations support, I graduated with a First-Class degree in Accounting from UWS and secured a graduate role with Morgan Stanley in Hedge Fund Accounting working towards my ICAS qualification.

I am proof that the support provided by the charity works. The opportunities I received have not only transformed my own future but continue to do the same for hundreds of other students from disadvantaged backgrounds every year.

It is now my turn to give back and tell the world that I’m proof charity works and that your postcode or social class should not define your future. If you're able to support my fundraiser, you'll be helping provide the same life-changing opportunities to the next generation of students like me.

Thank you for your support - every donation helps ensure that talent, not background, determines opportunity.