Volunteering at the city’s half-marathon inspired University of Winchester student Lauren Harvey to take up long-distance running and now she is in training for the London Marathon.
In 2021 Lauren, who studies Event Management, helped at the race’s end zone, handing out medals to tired competitors as they crossed the finish line.
“Watching the runners finish and seeing how happy they looked I thought ‘Maybe I could do that’,” said Lauren.
The next year Lauren ran the Winchester Half-Marathon, completing the 13.1 miles in a respectable 2hrs 14 mins.
On 21 April she will step up to the start line in the capital hoping to complete the course in around four hours and raise funds for Treloar’s a School and College for disabled young people in Alton.
Lauren completed a 30-day placement at Treloar’s last summer where she helped to organise one of their biggest fundraising events, Dummer Fair.
Each year, Treloar’s has charity spaces in the London Marathon and Lauren signed up to run for them.
“Last year I started working at Treloar’s and after seeing the excellent work they do for their students I thought it would be a great idea to sign up for the Treloar Trust London Marathon Team!,” said Lauren
Amy Bennett, Events and Community Manager, Treloar’s said: “Lauren has been a great addition to our team, not only is she incredibly hard working, but she is also chosen to take on her own fundraising challenge for Treloar’s, which we are so grateful for! Taking part in the London Marathon is a challenging but incredible experience and we cannot wait to see Lauren on route to cheer her on along the way!”
Lauren’s been training since 1 January in the roads around her home in the village of Arborfield near Reading.
The 23-year-old has never run further than the half-marathon distance and is using the London’s online training guide to prepare for the 26.2-mile challenge.
You can sponsor Lauren by visiting her fundraising page at https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/lauren-harvey .
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