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Taking on a challenge for LSHTM in 2023

Former LSHTM student and current staff member Sara Strout (grey top) leading the pack in the heart of the city

A group of LSHTM students, alumni and staff runners completed the Cambridge Half Marathon again this March, as one of this year’s challenge events open to the LSHTM community, representing our School and raising funds to remove the barriers to education via the LSHTM Scholarship Fund.

On Sunday, 5 March 2023, four amazing LSHTM community fundraisers joined DARO's Philanthropy Manager to lace up their running shoes and complete the Cambridge Half Marathon, raising ever more vital funds to widen participation through scholarships at LSHTM.

Thank you, to all our inspirational runners in 2023 for their dedication, training, and fantastic fundraising, and we hope to invite them back to join us for another challenge event in 2024.

We are delighted and enormously grateful that this year's Cambridge runners surpassed the amazing efforts of last year's Cambridge Half Marathon team, raising more than £1,500 for the LSHTM Scholarship Fund. Donations to this fund widen access to education at LSHTM, helping us train and empower the next generation of global health leaders and innovators. You can make a gift to support scholarships online.

Would you like to participate in an event like this?

There is still time to get involved this year with our London to Brighton Cycle. 20 LSHTM cyclists will ride 55 miles from the city to the coast on Sunday, 10 September 2023. Please register your interest now (and tell others you think might want to join the team!) to be part of this exciting and popular event this year, helping us ensure that finance does not prevent the next generation of global health leaders from acquiring the skills and expertise they need to improve health equity worldwide.

Our Cambridge runners this year were a mix of two current MSc students, Sacha Wright and Georgia Behrens, and two former students, Sara Strout and Ismail Zoutat. Three of our team of four runners deployed their previous fundraising skills and experience from working as Student Callers on LSHTM's alumni fundraising campaigns. We were extremely proud to see them take on this physical and fundraising challenge for LSHTM in 2023. Well done to our incredible runners who fundraised and participated this year!

Former student Ismail Zoutat (blue shorts) representing LSHTM in Cambridge city centre

The team took to the city's historic streets, demonstrating their determination and hard work, completing the run of 13.1 miles after months of training and fundraising leading up to the big day. They were joined by LSHTM's Development and Alumni Relations' Philanthropy Manager, Celine Ophelders, a keen runner and sportsperson, who will also be joining LSHTM's team of 20 runners taking part In the London Landmarks Half Marathon on Sunday, 2 April 2023. Go, Celine!

As part of the team's fundraising activity, runner and PhD student Esther Curtin, took the fundraising lead with an on-site bake sale at Keppel Street in February. Using her initiative and baking skills, Esther prepared an array of delicious treats, inviting former LSHTM scholarship recipients and raising over £200 on the day by selling cakes to our generous LSHTM Keppel Street community of students and staff. 

What events are next?

On Sunday 10 September, 20 riders will take on the London to Brighton cycle for LSHTM. If you want to join this team, you can register your interest now. We have more riders this year as last year's event was such a success, and we can't wait to start building our L2B 2023 team in the coming months! All our runners and riders are eligible for a free gift bag from the alumni office as a thank-you from us.

If you have any questions about community fundraising or have an idea or an event you'd like to take part in for LSHTM, you can email us at: alumni@lshtm.ac.uk

Former students and Student Callers Sara and Ismail with their finishing medals

Former students and Student Callers Sara and Ismail with their finishing medals

MSc student Sacha Wright, triumphant after the race

MSc student Sacha Wright, triumphant after the race

MSc student Georgia Behrens (also a Student Caller for LSHTM) at the finish line

MSc student Georgia Behrens (also a Student Caller for LSHTM) at the finish line

Celine Ophelders, LSHTM's Philanthropy Manager, with her finisher's medal

Celine Ophelders, LSHTM's Philanthropy Manager, with her finisher's medal