24
May
2016
|
10:51
Europe/London
901 Purple Wavers complete the Great Manchester Run
greatmanchesterrunners.jpg
Students and staff were proud to be purple after finishing the Great Manchester Run, as part of the first ever University Purple Wave.
The initial idea came from Mike Gibbons, Director of Student Recruitment and International Development, Kersti Borjars, Professor of Linguistics and Vicky Foster-Lloyd, Head and Sport and Active Lifestyles.
Vicky put her SPORT Manchester team at the helm, in partnership with Students’ Union, to bring the concept to fruition with a target of 1000 runners generating £100k for Charity.
The Students’ Union fundraising arm, Raise and Give team, had been working hard with all the runners to hit the target. More than £59,512 has been raised at the latest count. If you want to donate visit our Just Giving page .
The largest individual fundraiser is currently Steve Pettifer, raising nearly £1500 and the largest group fundraiser has been the University Women’s Hockey Club who have raised over £3500.
“
Getting people together to enjoy physical activity is not only great for student’s wellbeing but gives them the opportunity to try something new. This was my first time ever running and the 10K even gave me the push to try it. I may not have been the fastest runner but the sense of achievement of going out of your comfort zone is fantastic. It was a wonderful day and I can’t wait for next year, to get even more students and staff involved, especially those who like myself have never run before
Naa Acquah, General Secretary , University of Manchester Students’ Union
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SPORT Manchester aim to engage more people in sport and physical activity and are in their third year of being a successful Sport England University Activation Funded Institution.
Of the purple wave, 901 race finishers, 409 of which were new to running.
Member of staff Gary Rowlinson who finished in 35:04, just ahead of Dan Pettitt, student and Treasurer of the University X-Country Club with a time of 36:06, Anne Kenchington in 39:04 and Sinead Sweeney with 39:39. Anne and Sinead are also students and members of the University X-Country Club.
General Secretary of the University of Manchester Students’ Union Naa Acquah said: “Getting people together to enjoy physical activity is not only great for student’s wellbeing but gives them the opportunity to try something new. This was my first time ever running and the 10K even gave me the push to try it. I may not have been the fastest runner but the sense of achievement of going out of your comfort zone is fantastic. It was a wonderful day and I can’t wait for next year, to get even more students and staff involved, especially those who like myself have never run before.”
Vicky Foster- Lloyd said: “To line up on the start line with over 1000 colleagues from across the University community, all in purple t-shirts is a memory that I will never forget. Many of the runners had never taken part in this kind of event before and with over 400 stating they were new to running. To know that we have inspired so many people to get active and raise money for worthy causes is so pleasing and demonstrates what a great place the University of Manchester is.”