Charity & Motivational Speaking

Charity, Fundraising Events and Motivational Speaking…

Charity and fundraising events have always been very close to my heart right from an early age when I swam the English Channel as a 15 year old. This event raised money for a school minibus as well as helping start off the Fylde Hospice, Lancashire under Dr David Cooper.

23 years later, I swam the English Channel again solo, this time on Butterfly (a current World Record) fundraising for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People

I feel truly blessed that I can use my talents to raise funds for such worthy causes, helping people and the community in so many different ways. Over the years, I have given talks around my swimming and my achievements to Inspire and Motivate others to believe that whatever they turn their hands to, they “CAN DO IT”.

Charity work, fundraising, motivating, inspiring and enabling others is always at the heart of my life journey. I’m sure we have all endured challenges in life, obstacles to overcome and my own life has been no different. It is about beating the storms, learning to ‘dance in the rain’ and emerging the other end.

I see myself as having just done what I am good at. As someone once said to me, I am just ‘an ordinary person who has achieved so much‘.

Therefore, over the years, I have felt very humbled to have received many accolades, for example being awarded in 2006 an MBE for ‘Services to Swimming and Charity‘ and an Honorary Doctorate from Loughborough University for the same.

In 2007, I was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and prior to that nominated for the Sunday Times Inspiration Award in 2004

I have also been Patron of Home Start Charnwood and am currently an Ambassador for Greyhound Trust .

Charity work for me has not just been through swimming – for example, I have run the London Marathon a few times and done some other ‘mad’ things which have raised money for charity.

‘On land’ I have for many years continued to deliver motivational talks on my swimming, and how I have done what I have. This has been to many groups, companies, businesses and organisations throughout the UK and Worldwide.

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I have taken the opportunity through business talks, to raise money for charity and therefore been able to share a large percentage of this with various nominated charities.

In May 2024, I was over the moon when I became Mayor of Charnwood. What was so amazing for me was that I could use my Mayoral year to continue to raise money for charity. It was a ‘no brainer’ choosing LWA (Living Without Abuse) having had personal experience with them, and Dogs Trust Loughborough.

For over 25 years, I have rehomed dogs and they have been a beautiful part of my life, to this day. It was so amazing on many occasions to visit the Dogs Trust Centre and support them such as coffee mornings. I also gave a talk there and opened the Dogs Trust Christmas Fayre, all of which helped them in their fundraising efforts.

As well as events, I was able to deliver many Inspirational Talks during my Mayoral year to raise money for my chosen charities for example at Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon

I have supported many other charitable organisations over my lifetime and proud to say I continue to do so. For example recently, I was delighted to officially open Loughborough Pride in August 2025 having opened the first one in 2024. I believe in equality for everyone.

I continue to work with The Carpenters Arms, a rehabilitation centre for men on their recovery journey from addiction (Swim Six Hills Carpenters Arms)

I am an avid supporter of Canine Partners who provide Assistance Dogs to ‘Transform Lives‘ for those with Disabilities’.

Warning Zone in Leicester ‘dedicated to teaching life skills and safeguarding children’.

With their Patron, Rosemary Conley CBE, DL the fantastic charity, Steps, a Conductive Education Centre providing ‘specialist nursery services and supporting to children with cerebral palsy.’

For me this is about my ‘LIFE PURPOSE‘, a love of being involved with the community and charity in whatever way I can.

Therefore, please contact me NOW to find out more, whether that be a Motivational Talk, an Event Opening or other.

I am here to serve you so that I can continue my mission in life, helping the community and raising money for charity.

I look forward to hearing from you and to being with you soon. Takecare.

Warm Wishes,