Walking for Roudhan: Dad's sponsored walk helps fund over £30,000 for student internships in memory of son
Posted on 26 July 2024
In June 2023, Steve and Jo Beckwith, Roudhan’s parents, approached the University about creating a tribute in-memory of their son Roudhan, who died following a tragic accident whilst on holiday in Brussels.
They shared that Roudhan, who was studying in the Department of Biology, had spoken extensively and enthusiastically about internships. So they decided that GenerationResearch, a project within the Department of Biology, which takes an inclusive and diverse approach to widening access, would be a fitting way to remember Roudhan.
GenerationResearch was set up in 2020 to provide authentic paid studentships open to all university students, in positions across disciplines and a range of technical and research projects.
Over the past year, the Beckwiths have already raised over £22,000 in Roudhan’s memory towards GenerationResearch, bringing together those who knew Roudhan well to remember and celebrate his life.
In August last year, Roudhan’s Festival of Football was held at Hepworth United Football club. This was a celebration of Roudhan’s life, which brought together the things he loved most: football, music, university, great food, and the friends, family and community he cherished. Together, over £10,000 was raised for GenerationResearch. In April, the Halifax College Football Association organised a tournament on Campus East in Roudhan’s memory.
On Tuesday 30th July, the family will receive a degree for Roudhan at the Biology Graduation Ceremony, where his friends will also be graduating.
Steve has decided to walk from his home in Holmfirth to the University of York campus, and is inviting donations towards GenerationResearch before the tribute page closes in August.
“As a family, our connection to The University of York will be forever. We are so very proud that Roudhan got to study at such a great institution. I think it would be fitting that the University as a whole got to know about everything that has gone on around the fundraising.”
In time for Steve's walk on Monday, the fundraising target of £25,000 has been reached, with an incredible £30,000 going towards funding the internships once Gift Aid has been added.
The first Beckwith studentship has now been awarded to a postgraduate PhD student researching DNA maintenance and cancer. Remarkably, this student was a previous recipient of a GenerationResearch studentship as an undergraduate in 2021, and is now contributing back to the program as a supervisor.
This is an incredible legacy created for Roudhan, and we are proud to have worked with the Beckwiths.
For more details on Steve's walk, or to make a donation, please visit his fundraising page here.