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A businessman has helped raise almost £4,000 for Evora Hospice after completing one of the world's toughest open water swims. Ken O'Brien, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of dental technology company Mimetrik, took part in a relay crossing of the North Channel while most people were trying to stay cool during last week's heatwave.
O'Brien was one of eight swimmers who made up the Evora DW Ducks relay team, which completed the crossing from Donaghadee to Portpatrick in Scotland. The North Channel is regarded as one of the most challenging open water swims anywhere due to its cold water, powerful tides, unpredictable currents and marine life.
The funds raised will go towards Evora Hospice's specialist palliative and end-of-life care services for patients and their families.
O'Brien only learned to swim in 2025 and had just three weeks' notice before taking on the challenge. Swimmers attempting the North Channel would normally train for months and complete a number of qualifying swims, but the team had only a handful of preparation swims before the crossing.
Coach Donna Walton of DW Open Water led the team throughout their preparation. The opportunity came through Infinity Channel Swimming and its director, Jacqueline McClelland, who challenged Walton to demonstrate what could be achieved with the right coaching, preparation and mindset.
O'Brien said the relay had been a real team effort. "Every member of the team had their own reason for taking on the challenge, but we were united by a shared commitment to raising funds for Evora Hospice," he said. "None of this would have been possible without Donna's coaching, the belief she instilled in the team and the opportunity provided by Infinity Channel Swimming. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us and helped us reach this milestone."
The relay required swimmers to rotate throughout the crossing, navigating difficult sea conditions and relying on teamwork and resilience to reach the Scottish coast. O'Brien, a familiar face in the dental industry, balanced months of professional commitments with an intensive period of training before taking on the physically and mentally demanding challenge.
He completed the swim alongside teammates Aideen Gribbon, David Smyth, Shane McCumiskey, Leona Farrell, Stephen Purdon and Adam McCullough.
The Evora DW Ducks continue to welcome donations, with every contribution helping Southern Area Hospice provide compassionate care and support to local families. Donations can be made at gofund.me/454caa0c8.
More information about Mimetrik and its digital dentistry solutions, including its flagship product Cubit360, is available at mimetrik.tech.
