Helping MS-UK runners at the London Marathon
Our second year Sports Therapy students helped ease the aches and pains of runners after they’d completed all 26.2 miles of the London Marathon on Sunday 3 October.
Every year our students help all the runners who have taken on the iconic route for MS-UK, a national charity which supports anyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), empowering them to live healthier and happier lives by improving the understanding of MS and providing support where it is needed most.
This year, nine of our students were on hand to provide post-race massages. The nine students were:
- Lachlan Carpenter
- Luka Gaborovic
- Georgia Gilliard
- Sophie Green
- Brooke Harris
- Charles Kavanagh
- Kita Moore
- Ben Osborne
- Ben Winter
The runners really appreciate getting a free massage at the finish line and our students get to experience the atmosphere of a national sporting event. It is fantastic to be part of the support team at the event building and to make sure the runners get everything they need after completing such a challenging event.
However, the students also gain valuable experience which really contributes towards their degree. This ranges from getting the chance to help with minor first aid, which includes things like blister management, to getting the opportunity to put their sports therapy skills into practice. They also get the opportunity to work with real people, which is fantastic for their communication skills. These experiences are great for their CV and allow them to stand out from the crowd once they graduate.
The Colchester branch of MS-UK are now based at the Knowledge Gateway, so we’re hoping that there will be other opportunities for our students to support the charity at other events in the future.