three peaks fundraiser

I’m taking on the Three Peaks Challenge with The Change Foundation because this work isn’t just my job — it’s personal.
I grew up attending a local youth club. My mum worked late hours and affordable childcare wasn’t an option, so that space became more than just somewhere to pass time. It became a place of safety, structure, and belonging. Without it, my life could have gone in a very different direction.
As a young person, I struggled. I made mistakes, got into trouble with the law, and was labelled a persistent young offender. But what changed everything wasn’t punishment — it was people. Youth workers and coaches who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. People who gave me opportunities, challenged me, and showed me a different path through sport, discipline, and support.
Today, I work at The Change Foundation, leading programmes that use sport as a tool for social change, particularly with young people involved in or at risk of the youth justice system. I now have the privilege of being the person I once needed — supporting young people who are navigating the same pressures, barriers, and choices I faced growing up.
The Three Peaks Challenge represents so much of what our young people experience:

• Being pushed outside of their comfort zone
• Facing physical and mental challenges
• Learning resilience when things feel overwhelming
• And realising they are capable of far more than they think

Every step of this challenge is for the young people we work with — those who are often written off, criminalised too early, or never given the space to grow. The funds raised will help us continue delivering safe, structured programmes that build confidence, discipline, and hope through sport.
I know first-hand that early support changes lives. I am living proof of that.
This challenge is my way of giving back, of honouring the people who didn’t give up on me, and of ensuring that the next generation gets the same chance I did.
Thank you for supporting me, The Change Foundation, and — most importantly — the young people who deserve better futures.