Beth, please could you start by telling us about you and your journey?

I come from pretty unadventurous stock- not particularly conventional but not athletic. I was brought up on a small holding in a thatched cottage. We grew our own fruit and veg and animals for meat, milk and eggs. There was a lot of freedom alongside the hard work and I was definitely the adventurous tomboy- 3rd of 4 girls. I was always climbing trees and exploring and building dens. I dreamt of exploring the world- the amazon rainforest, the mountains…. But was convinced that those dreams were just that- dreams…. Not meant for the likes of me.

At then age of ten I was struck with a mystery illness, that started out as being diagnosed as glandular fever, but when I just didn’t get better for months, the diagnosis was called into question. My health remained fragile and my energy levels tenuous for the whole of my adolescence- until I wound up in a wheelchair at 17 when I was finally diagnosed with ME. The mental toll this took on my burgeoning sense of self has both helped and hindered me ever since- it has been the monkey on my back as well as the wings I used to take myself wonderful places. I have explored the world as I always wanted to, experienced being ordained as a Buddhist nun in Thailand, built my own house and challenged myself in the extreme.

You talk passionately about becoming your own hero, could you talk about what that truly means?

Becoming your own hero is a passion of mine. Having experienced true lows- being bed ridden after years of self hate, -doubt and -harm; and developing body dysmorphia from essentially being gaslit by a medical world not then recognising ME so receiving no support for 7 years, I often felt bereft and isolated in a body I couldn’t trust to function- not even in the next hour. My journey of self discovery was born of necessity. And with so little official guidance and support, I tried all manner of alternatives. I studied with indigenous healers and intensive meditation and self reflection… but it wasn’t until I became a single mother and decided to swim the English Channel that I began to truly understand advocating for myself.

I was terrified of not being healthy enough to raise a child, but my distrust of my body led me to feel compelled to challenge myself with something so much harder than daily life- the biggest scariest thing on my bucket list. And the last thing remaining. During that swim I was confronted with so many revelations about myself and my approach to championing myself…. And I discovered that becoming your own hero is not a grand gesture, it’s not puff chested or loud- it is recognising that to move forward, you need to accept where you are. It may not be your fault how you got to where you are, but without accepting your current circumstances, you can’t take the reins and change anything. Treating yourself as you would your own best friend- not shying away from harsh truths but also endlessly forgiving. And not being afraid to sing your own praises! Its something women in particular are culturally less comfortable with.

Your words on motivation and inspiration give a lot of people just that – motivation and inspiration, with this in mind could you tell us who inspires you?

I am inspired daily- but often not by any famous figures. I am inspired by my son- who is autistic with other compounding difficulties. His struggle to find his way in the world with an open heart, wanting to make people smile is endlessly inspiring. I am lucky enough to have known Deb Criddle since I was a child. She is a multi-gold winning Paralympian who performs the most exquisite dressage with only one arm and reduced use of one leg. Her daily life is inspirational- having raised a child herself, adapting what others do without thinking is incredible.

I am perpetually inspired by people who try in small everyday ways- and some of the most significant swims I have ever done have been with people who overcame their fears- maybe going out of their depths for the first time ever, or even getting in the water for the first time. That is epic!

And finally, what does International Women’s Day mean to you?

International Women’s Day is not just a celebration of how far we have come- and to highlight the extraordinary examples of pioneering and exemplary women- it is also a call to arms for how much there is still to do in terms of equality and expectation. I love that my son has never known a time when his mum didn’t achieve- and that he doesn’t subscribe to still cultural norms of gender expectations. I hope with each successive generation, our conversations become less relevant as more and more we are taken as people- gender, race, sexuality, differing abilities all being a part of what makes us who we are but not a division and limitation. International women’s day is a perfect day to highlight women’s stories both ordinary and extraordinary to keep us on track.