On 3 October, a fantastic group of Bristol alumni and students ran the 2021 London Marathon, raising over £10,000 for the University’s Healthy Minds Programme. They each ran an incredible 26.2 miles, raising awareness of the importance of physical activity on mental health and the vital nature of the programme itself.
The Healthy Minds programme helps students who are experiencing mental health difficulties by providing them with a bespoke physical activity plan and access to sports facilities. Students are paired up with a mentor – a member of the University fitness team with advanced mental health training – who coaches them throughout their time on the programme.
Claire Evans (BA 1991), one of the runners pictured above, said: “Marathon day was out of this world. I actually felt super-human and even now, I can’t believe I did it!”
Reflections on the day
Lucy Delamere (LLB 2020) said: “Running the London Marathon 2021 after it’s delay was truly one of the best and most unforgettable experiences in my life. The weather was perfect and I had the most amazing friends to support me, alongside the thousands of strangers who cheered me on along the way – especially at the challenging moments towards the end. Running on the roads of London was such an amazing experience with the run over Tower Bridge being a real highlight!
“It was incredible to be supporting such an important cause and raising awareness of Healthy Minds and I’m so happy that I finally got to achieve one of my bucket list goals! Thank you to all those at UoB and the Healthy Minds team for the support and opportunity – it truly is a day I will never forget!”
Maddy Padgett (fourth year medical student) said: “What an absolute privilege it was to be a part of such an electric day supporting something I care so deeply about. The brilliant crowds made me feel like I could take the whole thing in my stride.”
Olivia Copping (BA 2015) said: “It was the most incredible privilege to run the London Marathon 2021 on behalf of University of Bristol’s Healthy Minds programme. It was, without doubt, one of the best days of my life. Bring on Marathon No. 2!”
Adam Brammar (BA 2019) said: “Running the London Marathon 2021 was one of the best experiences of my life; I’ve already signed up for 2022.”
We are incredibly proud of our runners’ achievements and the fantastic amount they’ve raised in support of our Healthy Minds programme. If you’d like to donate to this vital service, you can still do so via the team’s JustGiving page .