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Yorkshire runners raise funds for mental health research

Posted on 6 October 2022

University of York staff, students and alumni have joined members of the public and helped raise money to support mental health research and services by taking part in the Yorkshire Marathon.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery will be taking part in the 10-mile run

More than 70 runners took part in the event on Sunday, 16 October to support Mentally Fit York - a fund established by the University to help advances in mental health research and services on a local, national and international scale.

Runners either took part in a full marathon, a 10 mile run or completed a 26.2 mile run at their own pace, at a location of their choosing, as part of the Yorkshire Marathon month.

The run took place in the same week that the University launched a new Institute of Mental Health Research, which aims to improve the lives and care of people affected by mental health difficulties, and mitigate the impact on individuals, families, the NHS, the workplace and whole communities.

Generous donations

Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Charlie Jeffery, who will be participating in the 10 mile run, said: “Mentally Fit York can and has made a significant difference towards advancements in mental health. Those who have already made generous donations have supported a range of causes, such as 24-hour online support tools for students and funding for mental health nursing scholarships.

“It was a great experience to run alongside colleagues, students, graduates and members of our local community, and I thank everyone for their support so far, not only for sponsoring our runners, but for supporting our wider campaign to raise awareness of the issues surrounding good mental health.”

Donate and support

Support for Mentally Fit York can take the form of donations, volunteering time, or sharing expertises. 

The local community can support the runners’ fundraising efforts by visiting the University’s York Unlimited pages here.

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