A COMPANY boss is to swim the length of Windermere to raise money for the Sunbeams Music Trust.

Steve Kitchen, of Levens, attends a monthly Sunbeams music therapy session at Sandgate School, Kendal, with his wife, Rachel, and their two young daughters.

The 43-year-old told the Citizen that he wanted to give something back to 'this amazing charity', which delivers more than 70 live music workshops to 1,458 children and adults each month.

Steve, the managing director of digital marketing agency Maybea Media, expects the 10.8-mile swim to take around eight hours next Tuesday (August 25).

Supported by kayaker Simon Hill, Steve hopes to raise at least £1,000 for Sunbeams Music Trust.

The charity was founded by Cumbrian-born harpist and singer Annie Mawson in 1992 to improve the health and well-being of people with special needs through the creative power of music.

The organisation's team of specialist community musicians delivers sessions at care homes, day centres, special schools, hospices and other venues.

Services are available to children and adults of all ages with a wide variety of special needs including physical disabilities and mental health problems; Alzheimer’s and senile dementia; cerebral palsy; autistic spectrum disorder; Down's syndrome; sensory impairments; emotional and behavioural disturbance and profound multiple disabilities.

Sessions are based around live rather than pre-recorded music, and most of Sunbeams’ therapeutic services are provided free of charge and are supported by grants and charitable donations.

To sponsor Steve's swim visit www.justgiving.com/stephen-kitchen2

To find out more vabout Sunbeams visit www.sunbeamsmusic.org.uk