Sheffield university student medical team running to support cancer care charity

The Sheffield Medics Running Club (SMRC) and Sheffield Oncology Society have been braving the snow, ice and rain for Cavendish Cancer Centre.

A team of 55 runners pushed themselves to run or walk 40km, 70km or 100km in just three weeks.

Sheffield Medics Running Club treasurer Nicole Hasoon said: “We are a small club for all students at the University of Sheffield and we set out to use our free time to raise some money for a local charity throughout this third lockdown.

“After reading about the work the Cavendish Cancer Centre does and how the Covid pandemic has affected their funds, we decided to make them our chosen charity.

"The charity provides emotional and physical support for families affected by cancer. They’re funded almost entirely by the local public so we knew they would need our donations more than ever with the current situation and the cancellations of many charity events.”Nicole said: “We swiftly got the oncology society on board and together we started our campaign. Over just one week of advertising, we were inundated by support from a plethora of university clubs and students.

Sisters' charity challenge for dad

“We’d like to give a MASSIVE thanks to the following societies for getting involved: Oncology, Medics Squash, Wilderness Medicine, We Are Donors, Benchball and Obstetrics & Gynaecology societies.Team members have raised at least £5,363. A two-hour therapy session for a cancer patient will cost £55.Nicole said: “We’ve had so much fun running up and down hills in Sheffield. It’s returned a strong sense of purpose back to us, throughout this hard winter lockdown.

"As a team we’ve managed to encourage each other to get out in the cold and nurtured new runners and walkers to their PBs! We’ve got true runners high from the sense of achievement and this effect is doubled by the natural benefits of running and getting outdoors has on our wellbeing.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor