Bioscience students become tough mudders for charity run

University of Northampton students have been setting the fundraising pace by taking part in a messy running event to raise much needed money for a bone marrow donation charity.

Human Bioscience students Jack Whitehouse, Micheal Naidoo and Adele Hillyer laced up and hit the dirt for the ‘Tough Mudder’ run to raise cash for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

They hope to generate the £600 to sign 15 people up to the Trust’s bone marrow and blood cell donor register, with suitable donors helping people with blood cancer and other blood disorders.

It took the brave team 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the run that included 70 obstacles ranging from climbing a vertical hill with their hands and crawling through cold water.

Jack said: “The run was as tough and muddy as its name suggested, but every penny we raise makes each step more worthwhile.

“With a total of £600 we can sign 15 people up the donor register and help somebody have a tomorrow!”

To donate, see the team’s fundraising page.

The Anthony Nolan Trust was created in 1974 by Shirley Nolan, whose three-year-old son Anthony was in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant.

Shortly after this, she set up the world’s first register to match donors with people in need.

Anthony Nolan Trust has recently cut the fee for checking to see if donors are suitable from £60 to £40, by swapping from spit kits to cheek swabs.

For more about the work of the Anthony Nolan Trust, see their website.