My name is Mark and I'm hiking Kilimanjaro for my 70th birthday. I decided to use this as an opportunity to raise money for a charity very close to my son Jem's heart. I am taking on this challenge to prove to myself that I can still do anything I set my mind to.

I’m raising money to benefit 2BU Somerset, and any donation will help make an impact. As an old fart, I don't always have the same perspective on life as my son Jem. Jem's upbringing and early adulthood has been very different from mine, and I don't always understand his world. What I can understand is that 2BU has been a huge part of Jem becoming the young adult he is. 2BU Somerset is a LGBTQ+ youth support service providing a huge range of support to vulnerable young people. Jem explained this to me in such a simple way that anyone can understand. He said "I love 2BU because I look at those young people and I see myself. If I'd had a support system like 2BU, my early adulthood would have been far less terrifying." What parent can hear that and not want to help?

In the past I have completed many physical challenges, like hiking in Nepal Mount Everest and Mera Peak, but this is the first time that I am using a challenge to raise money. Until now honestly, I've been too lazy to raise money! I have nothing against most charity, although I don't like these huge charities that waste money on a central london office. I also felt that I didn't want to bug anyone for money. We know that people are overwhelmed by charities asking for donations and we're in difficult times for cost of living. But this time I don't mind doing it because I've never asked before and this is a big challenge for my 70th birthday.

Why 2BU?

My son Jem started working with 2BU several years ago and he is now a trustee. He believes that the work 2BU do in Somerset is absolutely vital. I spoke to him about what 2BU means:

Jem said "At 2BU we just create a space for young people to feel safe. We don't push or encourage anything other than kindness and respect"

Mark said "I do get concerned that young people are under a lot of pressure to define their identity. I would do away with pronouns, why do we need these stereotypes and categories." We spoke about how gender norms have changed over the generations and in different parts of the world.

Jem said "If kids don't have a safe space to just explore themselves it forces them into making big decisions under societal pressure. When I changed my name I was terrified because I didn't get a lot of chance to test the water. In the workplace when you come out, you have one shot to get it right and you have to be so certain in yourself when you're asking others to change the way they think of you. Having a group of friends that understand your journey means you get a lot more time to figure things out. Having people to test out names and pronouns with is a small comfort in a really challenging time."

Transgender people haven't got the same rights, there is a precedent for hate that could soon be entrenched in law. Trump is a part of the problem and all this far-right stuff is just spewing hate on marginalised people. It's extremist views that are very very loud. Even if you don't know a lot about transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community, I think anyone can recognise that the level of hate they receive is horrific. 2BU Somerset is incredibly valuable at the county scale, but they are also having nationally important conversations with the NHS and with educators. The work of this is far reaching. Even if every queer young person just in Somerset can benefit from their work, the impact those young people will have on society going further is exponential.

More information about 2BU Somerset: 2BU-Somerset provides a specialist support service serving the needs of young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) people up to the age of 25 across Somerset. It is the only organisation targeting youth support to meet the support need for LGBTQ+ young people in the county. The central aim is to help build resilience and confidence and bring each young LGBTQ+ person to a place of healthy self-acceptance.