All of my family and friends know that I work for YMCA Doncaster, and that part of my job is to shout about the great work we do to support young people in Doncaster.

Recently a friend asked me “Why do you work for YMCA Doncaster?” and my reply was the usual reply “because I believe in the work they do to support young people.”

Later that night, I had time to really reflect and ask myself that same question.

As I sat in my own, warm living room, with my children at my feet playing with their toys, my mind wandered to the future.

What if, in 10 or 15 years time my children need a place to stay? What if, for some reason, me or their daddy couldn’t be there to provide for them or to keep them safe?

My heart aches just thinking about it. What will happen if my precious children end up alone with nowhere to go?

As a mother, this scenario is played out in my mind quite often. As a mother I constantly worry about my children and their future.

So, the answer to the question “Why do I work for YMCA Doncaster?” from the mother within me is:

I work for YMCA Doncaster because I believe in the work we do to support young people.

I work here to ensure that those parents who are not able to be a part of their child’s life, for whatever reason, knows there is someone looking out for their son or daughter.

I work here so someone’s son or daughter has someone to turn to in their darkest hour or on their brightest day when they want to share good news.

I work here because I need to know that if my children ever need a safe place to stay there is somewhere like YMCA Doncaster.

And now I am volunteering to sleep rough in the hope that I can raise much needed funds to support the fabulous work of YMCA Doncaster.

Please do sponsor me. I'll be sleeping in a cardboard box on a cold March night for something I truly believe in.