Meet our 2025 London Marathon runners raising money for Healthy Minds

Posted on by Francesca Mahon

In April 2025, alumni and University staff members will take on the 2025 London Marathon to support the University’s Healthy Minds Programme. 

The Healthy Minds Programme empowers students to take positive steps towards enhancing their mental and physical wellbeing through a diverse, socially engaging range of physical activities. So far, it has helped over 600 students improve their overall wellbeing. 

Each runner has set a goal of raising at least £2,000 to support Healthy Minds, and you can show your support through their JustGiving pages, linked below. 

Meet this year’s runners… 

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Anna Hargreaves, alumna and legacy pledger, on her journey from Bristol to Santa Fe

Posted on by Clare

Anna Hargreaves with her husband Drew at Santa Fe Botanical Garden

How does an English Bristol grad who studied French, Spanish and Political Science end up working in Public Health in Santa Fe, USA you might ask? Meet Anna Hargreaves, an incredible woman who has done just that and more, and who credits Bristol with giving her an amazing head start in life.

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‘The alumni community offers a network and relationships that last a lifetime’: Geraldine Keefe on the US alumni network

Posted on by Bailey Anastasiades

Geraldine Keefe smiles in front of a leafy, outdoor background.

Geraldine Keefe (MEng 2000) is the new Chair of the University of Bristol Foundation, working to strengthen the University’s community of over 4,500 Bristol graduates in the US. She is the head of Investment Banking for the Midwest Region at Goldman Sachs. Passionate about education and music, Geraldine holds a number of board roles, including at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Old Town School of Music, and The Posse Foundation Chicago Advisory Board. Here, she shares the story of her start at Bristol and how it’s impacted her life today.

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‘There is a moral compass in journalism that makes you want to get to the truth and the heart of the matter’: Laura Trevelyan on journalism and reparatory justice

Posted on by Bailey Anastasiades

Laura Trevelyan smiles in a portrait against a dark wall.

We were fortunate to speak with one of this year’s esteemed honorary graduates, Laura Trevelyan (BSc 1990, DLitt 2024). She graduated with a degree in Politics before becoming a BBC journalist serving as UN Correspondent, New York Correspondent then anchor of BBC World News America.  After discovering her family’s historic links to the transatlantic slave trade, Laura made the documentary ‘Grenada: Confronting the Past’ to investigate the story and discover how to address this legacy. Laura and her family made a formal apology for their family’s role in slavery as part of a larger reparations plan, and she is now a committed philanthropist and campaigner for reparatory justice. She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters honoris causa in this summer’s graduation ceremonies.  (more…)

Bristol alumni celebrated in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list

Posted on by Francesca Mahon

 

Each year, the King’s Birthday Honours list recognises the outstanding achievements and dedicated services of individuals committed to our society. This year, we are delighted to announce that 18 remarkable Bristol alumni and staff have been recognised for their contributions to health, community, education, the arts, and more.

We take great pride in celebrating their accomplishments and the incredible impact they have made. (more…)

A celebration of our volunteers

Posted on by Sorel Watson

The Community Connections Thank You event was a lovely evening held last month in the Wills Memorial Building. We welcomed some of our valued volunteers, mentors, and students to reflect on the achievements of the past year and celebrate those who contribute so much to our Bristol volunteering community. Attendees included mentors and mentees from our Bristol Mentors and Bristol Voices programmes, Bristol Connects e-mentors, and active student event organisers.

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Seedcorn Fund: Innovative climate research

Posted on by Grace

The Cabot Institute Seedcorn Fund provides vital funds to support bold and ambitious interdisciplinary climate research projects. Supported by alumni and friends, the Seedcorn Fund demonstrates the remarkable impact philanthropic support has on cutting-edge research and shows how our Bristol community is helping to change the world one step at a time.

These three amazing climate research projects were made possible through Seedcorn funding. (more…)

Reflections from our #TeamUoB 2024 London Marathon Runners

Posted on by Francesca Mahon

A massive congratulations to our six #TeamUoB runners who ran the London Marathon in April, raising an incredible £14,313 in support of the Healthy Minds programme!

Healthy Minds supports students dealing with mental health challenges by offering personalised physical activity plans and access to sports facilities. Students are paired with a mentor from the University fitness team with advanced mental health training to guide and support them throughout their participation in the programme.

Thanks to the money raised by our 2024 London Marathon runners, even more students will be able to feel the benefits of physical activity on their wellbeing.

Andrew Ford, member of the Healthy Minds team at the University’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health said: ‘I wanted to send a huge congratulations to all the runners who participated in the London Marathon. Hearing about your stories and experiences from the day has been truly inspiring and your generosity in supporting our program is remarkable, and it means that even more students facing wellbeing concerns will receive the support they need.’

Read on to hear our runner’s reflections from race day. (more…)

‘Shakespeare has been a passport through my life’: celebrating the 2024 Alumni Award winners

Posted on by Grace

In celebration of Bristol’s 2024 Alumni Award winners, the University hosted a special dinner in The Orangery at Goldney Hall, bringing awardees and their guests together to honour the remarkable achievements of these Bristol graduates.  (more…)