While most of us were trying to stay cool during last week’s heatwave, Mimetrik’s Ken O’Brien (pictured second from left) was swimming one of the world’s toughest open water crossings.
The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of UK dental technology company Mimetrik, successfully completed a relay swim across the North Channel with a team of eight, helping raise almost £4,000 for Southern Area Hospice.
As part of the Evora DW Ducks relay team, Ken took on the crossing from Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, to Portpatrick, Scotland. Renowned for its cold water, powerful tides, unpredictable currents and marine life, the North Channel is considered one of the world’s most challenging open water swims.
Remarkably, Ken only learned to swim in 2025 and had just three weeks’ notice before taking on the challenge. While North Channel swimmers would normally spend months training and completing qualifying swims, the team had only a handful of preparation swims before stepping up to the challenge.
Central to the achievement was coach Donna Walton of DW Open Water, who led the team throughout their preparation. The opportunity came through Infinity Channel Swimming and its Director, Jacqueline McClelland, who challenged Donna to demonstrate what could be achieved with the right coaching, preparation and mindset.
The relay was completed in support of Southern Area Hospice, with the team raising almost £4,000 to help fund the charity’s specialist palliative and end-of-life care services for patients and their families.
Ken said: “Completing the North Channel relay was an incredible experience and 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 Southern Area Hospice.
“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.”
A familiar face to many across the dental industry, Ken balanced months of professional commitments with an intensive period of training before taking on the physically and mentally demanding challenge. The relay required swimmers to rotate throughout the crossing, navigating difficult sea conditions and relying on teamwork and resilience to reach the Scottish coast.
Ken completed the challenge alongside teammates Aideen Gribbon, David Smyth, Shane McCumiskey, Leona Farrell, Stephen Purdon and Adam McCullough.
The team continues to welcome donations, with every contribution helping Southern Area Hospice provide compassionate care and support to local families. To support the Evora DW Ducks’ fundraising efforts, visit: https://gofund.me/454caa0c8
For more information about Mimetrik and its digital dentistry solutions, including its flagship product Cubit360™, visit www.mimetrik.tech.
