UoS staff and students take on the ABP Southampton Marathon
The ABP Southampton Marathon Festival took place on the 3 May 2026 with over 10,000 people running their choice of a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, or full marathon. Over 20 colleagues ran for our University’s charitable funds, and a number of students united behind a campaign raising awareness and funds for the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Staff Matters heard from some of our runners to find out who they ran for, why, and their experience on race day.
Colleagues who ran
Sandy Mackinnon, Administrator in the Faculty of Medicine, and Yasmin Gorman, International Officer in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, took on the 10K and 5K, respectively, in support of the Cancer Immunology Fund. The cause was personal for both of them.
When asked about her motivations for fundraising for the Cancer Immunology Fund, Yasmin said,
“Sadly, cancer touches everyone in some way – Losing my grandad recently to stage 4 glioblastoma was the first time I truly witnessed the impact of cancer up close. It was devastating. Supporting cancer research won’t bring him back, but if my efforts can help others facing similar diagnoses, then taking on this challenge feels incredibly worthwhile.”
Sandy had a similar connection to the Cancer Immunology Fund, adding:
“I work in the Faculty of Medicine and have had a considerable amount of engagement with researchers over several years, so supporting the Cancer Immunology Fund felt like a natural choice. In addition, I’ve had a family member affected by cancer, so it’s a cause that means a great deal to me personally”
In the lead-up to race day, both Yasmin and Sandy utilised local running clubs and Park Runs to make the most of their training and gain support from others.
Yasmin, who was new to running, says:
“I started my training just two months before race day and joined a running club in Southampton. The folks there really kept me going, and their encouragement made such a difference. I had never completed a full run without stopping, so I was nervous about how I’d do on the day.”
For Sandy, the challenge was about stepping up to a new distance:
“I run on the common regularly, weekday mornings and weekends. I’d never run a 10k before, but by gradually building up my distance on the Common, I eventually felt comfortable with it. Completing a 10k for the first time felt like a real breakthrough, as it gave me the confidence that I could take part in the event itself.”
When asked about their favourite moments on Race Day, both Sandy and Yasmin loved the atmosphere and the support they received from the general public, adding that being cheered on gave them the motivation to continue and reach key milestones.
Alongside those supporting our cancer research, some of our colleagues also ran in aid of our Ignite Programme, the University’s widening participation and social mobility programme designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds. Among them were Collins Ntim, Professor of Accounting in Southampton’s Business School, and Kyle Dodson, Communications manager in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, who both completed the 10K in support of Ignite.
Kyle ran for Ignite because of his own experience at university. He said:
“I feel very fondly towards the Ignite Programme and what it stands for. My university didn’t have a programme like Ignite – but I definitely grew up around financial uncertainty, and I was the first generation of my immediate family to go to university. Looking back, I know how much that extra support, guidance and sense of belonging would have helped me when I was a student and because of that, if there’s an opportunity to support Ignite and the students it helps, I’m always keen to get involved.”
Collins shared a similar motivation, reflecting on the support he received at university:
“I was fortunate to receive several scholarships during my higher educational journey, and without that support, many opportunities would not have been possible for me. Supporting underrepresented students through the Ignite Programme is important because it helps talented individuals overcome barriers, access higher education, and fulfil their potential in the same way others once supported me.”
When we asked Collins about his inspiration to run the 10K, he told us he was running in memory of his mum, Yaa Amponsaa, who sadly passed away last year. He shared:
“She always encouraged and inspired me to pursue higher education and to make the most of every opportunity. Running while supporting scholarships at the University of Southampton felt like a deeply meaningful and fitting tribute to her life and legacy.”
Collins’ favourite moment of the race was the final stretch towards the finishing line. He shared that crossing the finish line while reflecting on his mum’s memory made the experience emotional, memorable, and deeply rewarding. Kyle’s favourite moment was starting the race side by side with his partner, who was also running the 10K.
When asked about fundraising in the future, Collins added,
“I would definitely like to take part again and would encourage colleagues, students, alumni, and members of the wider community to consider joining as well. It is a fantastic way to challenge yourself physically, meet inspiring people, and contribute towards scholarships and opportunities that can genuinely change lives.”
Students who ran
A group of University of Southampton students ran in aid of a campaign raising awareness and funds for the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Founded by students from the UoS Sudanese Society, the initiative brought together more than 30 societies and became one of the largest student fundraising collaborations seen on campus this year.
Almost 100 runners came together, wearing specially commissioned green T-shirts, emblazoned with “Run for Sudan”.
One of the standout moments came when the team was joined by Sudanese Olympian Sadam Koumi, who led the warm-up, guided runners through stretches, and started the run with the group. They were also visited by British marathon runner Mahamed Mahamed, who stopped by the team’s stand, cheered them on, and picked up exclusive campaign merchandise.
The campaign has now raised nearly £10,000 across donation platforms and is expected to continue growing as the team looks ahead to future events and further fundraising.
A spokesperson for the campaign said the support they received on the day was overwhelming and reflected the strength of the student community behind the cause. The campaign was supported by partners and sponsors including Ethar Relief and Sadaqat UK.
With the marathon now complete, the team says they are already looking ahead to what comes next, with plans to build on the momentum from race day and continue growing the campaign.
This is the third year in a row that staff, students, alumni and members of our community have run in the Southampton Marathon Festival races in aid of the University’s charitable funds. If you would like to run for us next year, please let us know by filling out our Microsoft Form, and we will contact you when registrations open in the Autumn.
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