Mentroar is a pioneering initiative designed to empower disadvantaged teenagers by pairing them with positive role models and engaging them in structured sports activities.

Our mission is to foster resilience, improve self-esteem, and enhance academic performance through mentorship that bridges the gap between potential and opportunity.

Our Mission

At Mentroar, our mission is simple but powerful: to empower disadvantaged teenagers by connecting them with positive role models and engaging them through sport. We use mentoring to build resilience, teamwork, and personal growth—helping young people see what’s possible and giving them the tools to achieve it.

Our vision is to become a leading force in transforming young lives through mentorship and sport, creating a generation of confident, capable, and socially responsible individuals who inspire change in their communities and beyond.

My Story

Growing up, my life was shaped by challenges that demanded strength and resilience.

My father, an alcoholic, was absent for much of my childhood, and my mother worked tirelessly to provide for us while grappling with her own mental health struggles.

Our family endured significant financial hardship, relying on food banks, secondhand clothes, and support from my grandparents. I vividly remember moments of hiding on the floor from debt collectors and borrowing money for basic necessities like gas and electricity.

These experiences made me acutely aware of what it feels like to go without, and they instilled in me a fierce determination to not let these circumstances define me.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences were a significant part of my upbringing. Domestic abuse and the absence of a stable father figure left a profound impact on me, fuelling anger and resentment as a young person.

I often acted out, both physically and emotionally, feeling like an outsider among peers who seemed to have everything I lacked — parents who supported them, holidays, and a stable home life.

This resentment sometimes became a driving force, pushing me to excel in sports as a way to earn self-worth and validation from others, including my coaches and teammates.

Sports: An Outlet and Refuge

Sports became my sanctuary and my outlet. I developed a passion for football and rugby, walking two and a half miles to Griffithstown Football Team practices and matches.

After games, I would often wait behind the changing rooms, pretending my mum was on her way to pick me up, only to walk home alone to an empty house.

These walks were tough but formative. I would often engage in self-talk, building my confidence and resilience, determined to rise above my circumstances.

Finding a Role Model

A turning point in my life came when I met Steve Kerzly. He became my Mr. Picton — a supportive, judgment-free male role model who saw potential in me and treated me the same as everyone else, regardless of my background.

Steve’s belief in me allowed me to excel and gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions.

His influence was a reminder that a single positive role model can make all the difference in a young person’s life.

A Glimpse of Stability

Walking into Katie’s house for the first time was another transformative moment. At 15, I stepped into a home that was everything I had dreamed of — a stable family environment with supportive parents, a loving dynamic, and a sense of security. Her parents’ warmth and generosity showed me what a family could be, and it became a vision for the life I wanted to create. That moment inspired me to work tirelessly toward building a better future for myself and those I love.

Adulthood brought new challenges, including a horrific knee injury at 20 that threatened to derail my athletic dreams. Doctors told me I might never play sports again or even regain full use of my leg. But through sheer determination and 70 operations, I defied the odds, returning to achieve success as a semi-professional rugby player and a Welsh amateur boxing champion. These achievements were more than personal victories; they were proof of the mental toughness and resilience I had developed through years of adversity.