Woman completes 10,000 milkings in 10 days for charity
A British woman has travelled the full length of Great Britain milking over 10,000 cows in 10 days to raise money for a farmers' charity.
45-year-old Marie Stephenson from Warton in Lancashire set off from Bodmin in Cornwall, on England’s south-west coast, on August 3 making her way up towards Scotland.
During her 920-mile-trek she stopped off at 22 farms to milk their cows, finally beating her target with 10,411 cows milked in just 10 days.
Stephenson, who works in the agriculture industry, said her goal was to raise funds for RABI, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
The charity provides practical, financial and emotional support to farmers across England and Wales.
In the end Marie Stephenson managed to raise over £5,700 for the charity, a figure that is still growing as donations continue.
10,000 milkings
One of the farms that Stephenson stopped at was Wallhope Farm in Wales run by Paul Williams and Sarah Bevan who were pleased to be a part of the charity fundraiser.
Their farm is home to over 200 Holstein and Jersey cows milked twice per day to supply their on-farm milk and dairy produce vending machines.
Paul Williams said: “We were delighted to welcome Marie to Wallhope Farm and have her join us in the parlour along the way.
“There was a lovely personal connection too, as Marie and Sarah went to the same school in the Yorkshire Dales. The farming world really can be a small one.
“The money Marie has raised will help RABI continue providing practical, financial and emotional support to farming people and their families when they need it.
“We were only one small stop on a 920-mile journey, but we are very glad Wallhope could be part of it,” he said.
Stephenson's journey also encouraged many conversations with farmers about mental health and other issues dairy farmers are currently facing.
She said: “This experience has been so very special. The people and their stories have moved me beyond belief.
"The commitment and effort that farmers and farm workers put in, day in, day out, is beyond anything I have ever experienced.
"In between their busy schedules, they have fed, watered and housed me with the highest standard of hospitality, and I will be eternally grateful to each one of them.
"I hope the money raised allows RABI to carry on its amazing work. It has been an honour to support this incredible charity, which gives our farming community so much support in so many ways," she added.
RABI events community fundraiser, Danielle Burwood added: "Marie’s 10,000 cows challenge has been an incredible undertaking, and we are enormously grateful for everything she has done for RABI.
"Not only has she raised £5,706 to support our work, but her journey has created conversations about wellbeing in agriculture and helped more farming people understand that support is available.
"We would also like to thank every farm that welcomed Marie and everyone who donated or supported her along the way,” she said.
