Lancashire woman completes epic 10,000-cow milking challenge

Agricultural professional Marie Stephenson has completed a gruelling challenge to milk more than 10,000 cows in 10 days, raising more than £5,700 for farming charity Rabi.

Ms Stephenson, 45, from Warton, Lancashire, began the challenge in Bodmin, Cornwall, on 3 August and travelled about 920 miles through farming communities towards Scotland.

She visited 22 farms and exceeded her target, milking 10,411 cows in total.

See also: 1 woman, 10 days, 10,000 cows milked for Rabi

The one woman, 10 Days, 10,000 Milking Cows challenge involved co-ordinating milking times across different farms and observing strict biosecurity measures.

Farmers welcomed Ms Stephenson into their parlours, helping her complete each stage of the journey.

Her efforts have raised vital funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi), which provides practical, financial and emotional support to farming people across England and Wales, while highlighting mental health and wellbeing across agriculture.

“This experience has been so very special. The people and their stories have moved me beyond belief,” said Ms Stephenson.

She praised the farmers and farmworkers who supported her along the route, saying their “commitment and effort was beyond anything I have ever experienced”.

Ms Stephenson, who works for AB Agri, also thanked the farms that hosted her, adding: “I will be eternally grateful to each one of them.”

The fundraiser also attracted national attention, with Ms Stephenson appearing on Good Morning Britain and ITV’s evening news, while 5 News named her its Hero of the Week.

“It has been an honour to support this incredible charity, which gives our farming community so much support in so many ways,” she said.

Raising awareness

Danielle Burwood, events community fundraiser at Rabi, said Ms Stephenson’s challenge had not only raised vital funds but also “created conversations about wellbeing in agriculture”.

Ms Stephenson, who milked professionally at a dairy farm for just over a year after university, admitted she was ready for a break after completing the challenge.

“I will miss milking, but I am so very ready for a rest,” she said. “I will miss the magic of cows and the amazing people who look after them.”