Kate lives in the North East of England and has been a firefighter for over 16 years. Born in County Durham, the second of four children and sandwiched between two brothers, Kate soon became accustomed to holding her own amongst male counterparts. This competitive drive saw her reach a high level in numerous sports and win 3 consecutive national chess championships. After graduating from the University of Sunderland with a Sports Science degree, Kate was undecided as to her future career, but a chance visit to an open day at the Fire Service Training Centre changed her life forever. No stranger to challenging situations, Kate has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro; coached soccer in USA; managed a successful women's football team; completed the first 'Tough Mudder' event in Scotland; and more recently adopted 2 boys as a single parent. Following the arrival of her second son, Kate changed direction, she now works as a personal trainer and life coach, encouraging others to follow their dreams.