Getting active for a good cause It’s well known that Sheffielders class themselves as a healthy lot. With so much green space and the Peak District on our doorstep, it seems the opportunity to stretch our legs is just around every corner.
Annie Tapley PGCert Genomic Medicine 2019
Cause: Genetic Disease Research Challenge: Couch to 5K Location: Berlin What made you take this on? I hadn’t run since school and now in my late 30s, I wanted to see if I could achieve running 5km. Also genetic disease research is important to me because my work 28 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2022/2023
Thank you!
Over the years, hundreds of Sheffield alumni and friends have run, walked and cycled remarkable distances in aid of university causes. Between you, you’ve fundraised an astonishing £1.45 million. Thank you so much!
involves diagnostic genetic testing. It’s the foundation of my professional life so I know the difference this research can make. How did you stay motivated? My friends in Sheffield, Leicester and Rome did the runs on the same days as me. We kept each other motivated. Do you have any advice for someone looking to take on a similar challenge? Find some friends to do it with, give it a go and see how far you can get. You might surprise yourself!
©KRISTIAN-EGELUND/UNSPLASH
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ur annual Big Walk returned this year and saw up to 400 walkers take on distances of up to 50km. Fundraising for genetic disease research (see page 16), these inspiring individuals have already contributed more than £40,000 towards a new research lab. And donations are still coming in. But it’s not just walkers who are helping fundraise for incredible university causes. Sheffield alumni are a community of avid runners too! We caught up with four Sheffield alumni to find out exactly what motivated them to take on such testing physical challenges.