Murray Callander
Climbing the Welsh 3000s to give hope to a boy growing up without a dad
Fundraising for Chapter2
Story
**1 day to go!! Thank you to everyone that has donated so far who helped me reach my first goal of £2,500. The training has made an big impact on me as I've thought about what this cause means and so I've decided to double my goal and aim for £5,000 to recruit and train two new mentors. And I'm going to personally match every donation from now on until we get to the new goal:) **
If you are a teenage boy growing up in the UK today, how likely is it that you have access to a positive male role model?
Around three quarters of children live with both parents when they start school and this drops to just over half by the time they reach 16.
Two thirds of teenagers in low-income households do not live with both parents. In 92% of these households it's the mother that is brining up the children.
Three quarters of young people in custody had an absent father.
Only 15% of primary school teachers are men.
The current generation have been called the "fatherless generation". There has never been a more pressing need for positive male role models yet if feels politically incorrect to speak about it.
That's why I admire Rich Kay and the team at Chapter 2 so much. They equip, train and supervise mentors and provide access to a community of good men for boys growing up without a father.
It's a huge challenge because it is both an emotionally charged subject and not a quick problem to solve. It takes time and a lot of physical and emotional commitment.
So that's why I agreed to be part of the Welsh 3000s challenge to help them raise money and awareness for the problem.
Early on Fathers day this year (20th June), I along with around 30 other men from all walks of life will be attempting the Welsh 3000s - a non-stop walk over the 14 highest mountains in Wales. 30miles of walking with 4000m of ascent - that's more than from Base Camp to the top of Everest.
