Kristen to swim English Channel for headspace Elsternwick 

Carnegie mum Kristen Kearns has set herself the massive goal of swimming across the English Channel and will use this personal challenge to raise funds for local headspace centres including headspace Elsternwick. Kristen has already raised more than $3000. 

“My family went through some tough times during and after lockdown,” Kristen says. “headspace worked with my kids individually and with the family as a whole to process the hurt and find a way to move forward together more harmoniously. 

“I’ve set myself the goal of swimming across the English Channel and I am particularly drawn to the idea of using this personal milestone to make a positive impact on youth mental health.” 

Juggling her work in aged care & disability support, Kristen has been swimming an average of 35 to 40 kilometres each week in preparation. 

She has completed several long-distance swim events including the 2023 & 2024 Ultra 24 Series (from Safety Beach to Sorrento, Vic, 24km), the 2023 Port to Pub (Fremantle to Cottesloe to Rottnest Island, WA, 25km) and the 2024 Palm 2 Shelly (Palm Beach to Shelly Beach, NSW, 26km). 

To qualify for the English Channel crossing, you need to swim for 6 hours in 15.55-degree waters. Kristen smashed it - swimming for 8 hours and 40 minutes at Half Moon Bay. “It really helped with my cold-water confidence,” she says. “My strategy of gaining 10kg has paid off big time!” 

Kristen’s crossing window will be the week of 26 August to 1 September 2024 (she will choose the best weather of the week). Kristen will swim from Dover, England, to Cap Gris-Nez (near Calais) France – a total distance of 34 kilometres. It’s likely to take her about 14 hours. 

During the swim, Kristen will consume 7 litres of high-carbohydrate fluid plus bananas and grapes for quick energy. The support crew will attach her drink flasks to a rope and throw them out to her. 

Her efforts will support the valuable programs that headspace provides to young people in south-east Melbourne. Donations will fund initiatives such as exercise equipment and art and drama therapy sessions. 

Alfred Health is the lead agency for headspace Elsternwick, headspace Bentleigh and headspace Syndal.   

To donate, visit https://fundraising.alfredfoundation.org.au/kristen-kearns-swimming-the-english-channel-for-headspace