By Alex Lazarus
We are proud to support Dame Kelly Holmes Trust founded by double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes and chosen by us as a charity that reflects our values as it exists to help young people facing adversity build the confidence, self-belief and resilience to thrive.
Drawing on her own journey as a world champion marked by injury, mental health challenges and extraordinary perseverance, Kelly established her charity to ensure that others would not have to face their challenges alone. Through athlete-led mentoring and development programmes, the Trust walks alongside young people as they take meaningful steps forward. It’s a mission we are honoured to be part of, not only through coaching and advisory work, but through fundraising, awareness-raising and hands-on involvement.
In September, I joined Kelly and a group of dedicated fundraisers on a high-altitude trek through the Peruvian Andes. We took on the Ancascocha Trail, a remote and lesser-known route to Machu Picchu.
It’s not a trail for the faint-hearted with steep valleys, rugged ascents, river crossings, and winding Inca paths. The route reaches a height of 4,650 metres at Huayanay Pass where the air is thin and the pace slows to a crawl. Days were long, ranging from six to eight hours of trekking, sometimes in silence, often in awe of the mountains around us. It was tough, beautiful and stripped of all modern comfort. No electricity, no showers, no distractions. Just movement, challenge and purpose.
Why did we embark on this trip? The Trust does extraordinary work with young people, particularly those facing real barriers such as low confidence, mental health struggles and limited opportunities. Their model is simple and powerful: former elite athletes, trained as mentors, walk shoulder to shoulder with young people to help them build self-belief, resilience and a winning mindset. It’s a teammate like no other.
It resonated with us on a deeper level. At Lazarus & Maverick, we spend much of our time supporting high-performing, successful leaders, and people already operating at the top. The team at Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, on the other hand, nurture leaders of the future and those who might not yet see what’s possible for themselves. Having a champion in your corner at that stage can make all the difference.
It’s what gave this trek real meaning. And that’s what we were walking for.
The trail was relentless. Climbing to 4,800 metres, camping in below zero temperature at the foot of a glacier, carrying the essentials. It strips everything back. Some of us got altitude sickness. Some walked in silence. There’s no hiding from yourself at that altitude, and I personally loved the challenge, soaked up the isolation and the simple monotonous rhythm of one foot in front of the other.
There’s a lot a trek like this teaches you about life, leadership and the importance of showing up. You learn quickly that not everything can be powered through. You have to listen to your body, adapt to conditions and respect the pace of the group. You see how encouragement from others whether it’s offering someone water, checking in at the top of a hill, sharing silence can shift the energy completely. It’s the small things that carry people, not the big gestures. You also see how inner resilience is built not in one dramatic moment, but in how you deal with discomfort day after day, something that Kelly has experienced and endured in her career as a world-class athlete.
“What surprised me most was how quickly people who had never met before came together to form one team.” – CEO of Dame Kelly Holmes Trust
During our charity challenge, just as I expected, Kelly was with us every step of the way. She was steady, grounded, joyful and fully present. Refreshingly down to earth. Her leadership showed up in the fleeting moments: a check-in before a tough climb, a calm word when the altitude hit, a knowing glance that said, you’ve got this. She doesn’t take up space allowing others to be themselves. It’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t need to be seen to be felt. And because of that, we all gave our best, we walked a bit further, a bit faster when our wonderful guide, Herman, would reveal with a telling smile that we still have quite a way to go.
On the final morning, we arrived at the Sun Gate and looked out over Machu Picchu. After intense days in the mountains, there was a mix of emotion, relief, pride, a few tears. We were touched to have finished the trek. It felt big, not just because of the physical effort, but because of what it stood for.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported and sponsored us. The donations made a meaningful contribution to the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and the young people it serves. We appreciate their wishes and encouragement which made all the difference!
If you’re thinking about giving back, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust is doing incredible work that’s worth your support. And if you ever get the chance to walk that trail, you won’t regret it.
