In April this year, 25 members of staff took part in the Sheffield Half Marathon, raising £5,000 for students who benefit from the Hallam Fund.

These donations went to the Estranged Student Transition Fund and supported students who are disadvantaged through lack of emotional and financial support from their families whilst at university.

For next April’s event we are planning to bring together a larger team of runners to join Team Hallam. We invite you, our alumni, to run with our staff and students and be part of this fantastic event. Business and Management alumni, Sam Coulby, joined Team Hallam this year, smashed the route and proved to be one of our best fundraisers! We recently caught up with Sam to find out about his experience, and why he holds the Hallam Fund cause so closely to his heart.

Why do you support the Hallam Fund?

When I was a student people thought anyone with qualifications could go to university regardless of their backgrounds or household income. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that now for many prospective students, and when you read some of the Hallam Fund stories you soon realise how much it can make a difference to their lives.

What's it like to do the Sheffield half marathon?

The atmosphere on the day of the half marathon is absolutely brilliant! I think I'd underestimated how many people would actually be there, but when you do it the crowd will just pull you along. I started training about 8 weeks before and ran the route a couple of times in practice but it was a totally different experience doing it on the day with thousands of people there. It was also really nice to meet up with colleagues before the race in Hallam square; we all had our photos taken and we got the Hallam Fund running vest which really made you feel part of a team.

What would you say to someone who's undecided about joining the team?

I'd recommend it to anyone. You're doing it for a really good cause, the atmosphere is amazing and it's just so enjoyable. Normally I'd have been quite reluctant to ask people to sponsor me but because it was for the Hallam Fund and the cause is obviously very close to my heart it gave me a bit more motivation to fundraise for it. You don't run a half marathon every day so just go for it!

As you will be aware if you have lived in Sheffield, there are hills, which make this event particularly ‘interesting’. Your rewards of course are the scenic views of the Peak District, half of the course being downhill and the warm glow you’ll have from being part of a team of fundraisers who are making a difference to the lives of disadvantaged students. Your support will ensure that all of our students, regardless of their circumstances, can access the best opportunities and the benefits of higher education.

If you're looking for a challenge in 2019, we would love for you to join our team. So, lace up your running shoes and email fundraising@shu.ac.uk to find out how you can be part of the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday 14 April 2019.