In June Katherine Kay completed an intense, 40 day swim challenge in memory of her big-hearted best friend Amy. Finishing on 24th June on what would have been Amy’s 40th Birthday, Katherine swam an amazing 40 miles in 40 days, raising an incredible £4,372.80 for Winston’s Wish.

We asked Katherine to tell us more about her fundraising, the challenge itself and how she celebrated Amy’s life with her parents and family.

Tell us about your swim for Winston’s Wish and how you came up with the idea.

I wanted to do something to honour Amy and mark her 40th birthday in some way. I live near the beach and love swimming in the sea – as did Amy – so I thought that a swim challenge would be fitting.

Why did you choose to support Winston’s Wish?

Winston’s Wish has been a huge support to Amy’s husband and two boys. When I asked Amy’s family to suggest charities to donate to, they said Winston’s Wish and APP (Action on Postpartum Psychosis), which has also been incredibly supportive to them.

How did you find fundraising and was it difficult to raise such a fantastic amount?

I was so surprised at how generous people were when it came to their donations. One man donated £500! I sent the link to my sponsorship page out on many social media channels and Whatsapp groups, plus got some local press coverage.

Did you have to make any changes to your plans due to Covid-19?

On the final day of the swim (Amy’s birthday), her parents had hired a function room on the beach to meet and celebrate Amy/the end of my swim. Due to the rules changing, this had to be cancelled, but we put up a gazebo on the beach instead (luckily, the weather was kind to us).

What did you enjoy most about the challenge and what was the worst part?

During my swims, I loved that I had time to think about Amy and remember the fun we’d had together. With everyday life, there are so many distractions – kids, work, etc – but when I was swimming, I was alone with my thoughts. I also loved meeting new people who got in touch from a local swim group and wanted to swim with me. The worst part was probably the days when I got up 5am (to fit in the swim before the school run) and the conditions were windy and rainy, and the current strong. But I also enjoyed the challenge of these mornings – it would have been boring if every swim was on a millpond!

Huge thanks to Katherine for her support and congratulations on completing such a fantastic challenge!