Students from the University of East London’s BSc Sports Therapy degree course supported the UK’s leading children’s charity, Barnardo’s, at the London Marathon yesterday – Sunday 27 April – by treating runners to much-need post-race massages at the charity’s
post-race celebration event on Pall Mall.
29 dedicated students volunteered their time and specialist skills to offer vital recovery support to the 175 runners who took part in the Marathon to raise thousands for Barnardo’s. This marks a years-long partnership between the university and children’s
charity at the London Marathon, with UEL students lending their support to Barnardo’s runners for more than a decade.
Polly Debnam, Barnardo’s Event Fundraising Officer, said: “Our runners are all heroes and it’s so important that we celebrate their phenomenal achievement once they’ve crossed the finish line, and provide some much-need post-race support.
“We couldn’t do this without the fantastic skills of the many UEL students who so generously volunteer their time and expertise to give our runners a well-deserved massage!”
Maria Goriup, Senior Lecturer in Sports Therapy at UEL, said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for our students to put their training into action in a real-world, high-pressure environment. But more than that, it’s a chance to support runners who are pushing
themselves not just for personal goals, but for causes that really matter.”
The dozens of runners who donned Barnardo’s bibs to run the 26.2 mile-course have already raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity, with the hopes of reaching the target of £315,000. The funds will help the more than 350,000 children, young people
and families across the UK that Barnardo’s supports each year, through more than 750 services.
A recent survey for Barnardo’s found that every week, one in five parents in London (20%) must buy unhealthy food for their children because they can’t afford healthier options. Of those, almost a third (31%) said they were worried about what they were feeding
their children. Barnardo’s children’s services work with families across the UK, including London, to support a range of needs in local communities, including help and guidance around food and nutrition.
Barnardo’s Regional Director of Children’s Services for London, Emma Bowman,
said: “We know from our work in the community that many parents are making big sacrifices to make sure their children have the best food they can afford.
“But the reality is that high prices mean healthy food is out of reach for many families living in poverty, as it becomes harder to buy, cook and eat good food. This, in turn, can make the food their children eat a huge source of worry for parents.
“Missing out on a balanced, nutritious diet has a huge impact on a child’s health and wellbeing. Barnardo’s is here to support the families who need us most across the region to put healthy food on the table. We do this in whatever way we can, whether helping
with access to fresh food and healthy shopping vouchers; running cooking classes, events and workshops; giving help and guidance; or sourcing low energy cookers, so that children can enjoy a warm, nutritious meal more often.”
Barnardo’s charity places are now open for those who fancy taking on the challenge of the London Marathon in 2026. Visit
barnardos.org.uk/events/2026-tcs-london-marathon
to find out more
