Kent Union have staged three fundraising challenges for staff and students to take part in to help raise extra funds for student services, services that make a real difference to students’ experience at Kent. The fundraising builds upon the past success of our 2016 Cycle to Paris and 2017 Campus Cycle Challenge, and so far this year has already raised £6000!

Paris Marathon

Jim Gardner (Kent Union’s Chief Executive) kicked off this year’s fundraising challenges by taking part in the Paris Marathon on 14 April. Over 50,000 runners were involved in the annual event, and Jim completed the 42km course in just 3 hours 49 minutes!

24-Hour Cycle Challenge

The impressive fundraising continued last week with Jim Gardner, Dan Weale (Woody’s Manager) and Tania Durt (Brussels School of International Studies) completing a 24-hour cycle challenge – definitely a test of endurance! The three of them made it back to the UK having cycled 310kms from Paris with 15 minutes to spare, an incredible achievement.

The Next Challenge

The next fundraising challenge is the Welsh Three Peaks, which will be tackled by seven Kent Union staff members later this month. Alison Gore, Conor Dobbs, James Vesty, Jemma Whyman, Ria Stream, Shelley Wilkinson and Veena King will be travelling up to Snowdonia on Friday 21 June, before climbing to the summit of the highest peak in Wales the next morning. They will then travel south and climb Cadair Idris and Pen Y Fan respectively, before a well-earned celebratory evening in the Brecon Beacons.

Funds raised will go towards the Access to Activities Fund, student Liberation Groups, and Canterbury Nightline. If you would like to donate, or to find out more about the challenges, visit this link for the group’s JustGiving page. Please help us reach our target of £10,000!