My name is Rishab Chatterjee, and I am a Cadet Warrant Officer at 47F Grantham Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

After various trials and tribulations, I have advanced to the finalist stage in Cadet Vocational College's Westminster Award. The Westminster Award is a prestigious annual competition that recognises exceptional young people from youth organisations in the UK who have completed a BTEC Level 2 qualification and demonstrated "outstanding selflessness, leadership and community spirit".

As one of the 12 finalists for 2025, I will join an expedition across Calshot in Southampton and Brecon Beacons in Wales for 10 days. From the information trickled down to us, we will learn about:

• the local wildlife and ecosystems and how local organisations are working together to protect them

• sea safety advice from the RNLI

• specialist mountain search and rescue services

• humankind's impact on the plant life and ecosystems around us

So why should you support me? Cadet Vocational College provides free qualifications to young people from youth organisations nationwide. As finalists, we will decide the direction of the funds raised to the charities that have had the most impact on us.

More importantly, you will be able to follow my suffering across the days, which I cover, hopefully, an exponentially growing distance, so that I can achieve my fundraising goal. With that, please get in touch and support me in any way possible!