Meet the Team – ABP Marathon runners

Last year, 30 runners took part in the ABP Southampton Half Marathon and 10k run on behalf of the University’s Centre for Cancer Immunology (CCI) campaign, collectively raising over £9,500. This year the campaign is the lead local charity for the event. Over 60 staff have volunteered to run for the cause on Sunday 23 April, part of a team of over 200 runners. Southampton Connects spoke to sixteen runners about what inspired them to take up the challenge.

I’m running the half marathon for a second time because it’s for a great cause. Southampton scientists are making huge inroads into this new approach to cancer treatment. I’m really pleased to see the community support for the race, it really inspires me to push up those hills!

Razwana: In my role I’ve seen first-hand the incredible work that goes into the campaign. My New Year’s goal was to keep running so the ABP 10k was an ideal way to stay motivated.

Rayne : I heard about the campaign when I joined the University in November. Since then, the cause has become even more important to me as a close relative is currently receiving immunology treatment at Southampton General Hospital.

Rebecca: As well as the ABP half marathon, I’m running the Paris marathon two weeks before the ABP race to beat my target of raising £500 for the campaign.

Mackenzie: I’ve completed a number of 100-mile bike rides for charity, but I’ve never made the switch to running – the idea of a half marathon sounded like a good way to set myself a goal.

In my role I’ve worked on the Centre for Cancer Immunology campaign for nearly a year, and learnt a lot about the amazing work going on at the Centre. Seven of the Student Fundraisers I manage as part of our telephone campaign will also be racing with me, and many more are helping out on the day to fundraise and raise awareness.

The ABP Southampton race was a great opportunity to get together, become more active and bond as a team. Together we’re running a combined total of 57.6 miles and the CCI campaign is a great cause for our efforts. We’ve already broken our £500 target and have had generous support from our colleagues through activities such as bake sales.

I want to raise awareness of cancers of the immune system and highlight that we can utilise our own immune systems to target these awful diseases. I lead a team of six students and staff who work on a disease called Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia; current it is incurable but we are using antibody therapies to explore how it can be treated more effectively.

I’m running the 10k to raise money for the new Centre which my research group will be relocating to. Training is going well and I ran my fastest 5k in a year last week, now I just need to extend the distance!

I’ve been working at the University for 10 years, and recently worked on a project to purchase equipment for the new Centre for Cancer Immunology. Running the ABP Southampton Marathon is me doing my extra bit to help the cause. I’m running for my dad who is in remission from cancer – training has been hard but running has become my outlet to make sense of this relentless disease.

I’m running the marathon for a challenge, but I think it’s going to be a lot harder than I ever thought. I managed a 20-mile run last weekend but I don’t know how much punishment my knees can take!

There are lots of ways to show your support for the Centre for Cancer Immunology campaign – why not come along and cheer on our runners on the day, or visit the Centre for Cancer Immunology website for more fundraising ideas.