Mayram’s Story

Maryam lives in a single parent household due to having an incarcerated parent. She has witnessed domestic abuse in the household and the family is navigating real financial hardship. Maryam is one of 5 siblings and is expected to spend her free time outside of school tending to domestic responsibilities. When she first met us Maryam told us:

“I love doing all that stuff for my family and see it as my role, but I wanted to do Basecamp so I have some time for me, just to have fun and be myself.”

Maryam had never set foot outside of the Leeds/Bradford area, let alone on a mountainous trail. She was so unsure how to even place her feet or tie up walking boots that she often required a member of staff to work with her one to one. Seeing cows, climbing stiles and tackling long walks was a completely new world for Maryam to experience and one she welcomed with such bravery! On her 4th Basecamp trip, Maryam completed an 11km hike up to 547m, keeping up with the rest of the group and grinning the whole way with a stick she’d fashioned into a walking pole! In our reflection huddles that evening, Maryam shared:

“Bex [Maryam’s Basecamp Coach] told me she couldn’t believe how far I’d come with my fitness and walking and I hadn’t realised it at first but I think she’s right. It feels really good to improve in something and know that I’ve done that all by myself.”