Kathy’s Solo English Channel Swim

Eight Bells Celebrate Kathy Stevenson’s Inspiring Channel Swim, Raising £7,330 for Mental Health Support

Members of Eight Bells for Mental Health recently celebrated Kathy Stevenson, who raised an incredible £7,330 through her solo swim across the English Channel in July, with match funding from Greenham Trust. Kathy chose Eight Bells because she felt her late father would have greatly benefited from the empathy, friendship, and understanding they offer.

The celebration recognised Kathy’s outstanding achievement in completing this lifelong dream. Since childhood, Kathy had imagined swimming the Channel, and for three years, she trained intensively, even reducing her work hours to part-time to fully commit to the goal. Supported by her husband Mark and her employer, WSP, which also contributed to the total raised, Kathy dedicated herself to the challenge, building the mental and physical resilience to complete the gruelling 16-hour swim.

At the celebration event in October, Kathy shared her journey with members, describing her mantra of “controlling what you can and letting go of what you can’t” as she faced unpredictable weather, freezing waters, and jellyfish stings. She credited her crew for cheering her on and recalled how she swam through dawn to reach France, driven by determination and her love for the sea.  ‘I started to think about how warm and cosy I would be back on the boat and cuddled up with Mark, I mentally started dressing myself from the feet upwards, in all my warm clothes’.

Gary Norman, Chair of Trustees for Eight Bells, presented Kathy with a bouquet, thanking her for her remarkable support of the charity. Kathy and her coach Georgia joined members for a signature Eight Bells buffet, attended by trustees, staff, volunteers, and members, while Penny from 4Legs Community Radio broadcasted live, sharing Eight Bells’ mission across the Lambourn Valley. Kathy’s story highlights the power of mental resilience, a message that resonates deeply with Eight Bells’ commitment to supporting mental health in the community.

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