Students at Robert Gordon University (RGU) are being encouraged to pound the pavements for charity this September.
RGU: RAG (Raising and Giving), the fundraising arm of RGU’s Students’ Union, is looking for as many students as possible to sign up for the Macmillan OutRun September’ fundraising challenge.
The OutRun September is a month long fundraising initiative which encourages anyone to challenge themselves by running further, faster and harder for the whole of September to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Whether on the treadmill or on the tarmac, RGU students who take part in the run will be encouraged to push themselves and smash personal bests, with all money raised going directly towards Macmillan Cancer Support to help people with cancer take back control of their lives.
Stevie Kearney, volunteering and development coordinator at RGU’s Students’ Union is taking part in the Outrun and is encouraging any student no matter their fitness level to sign up.
He says: “The key to this is that people set their own target, so anyone can get involved. I run a lot anyway and it’s just about clocking up those miles and working it into your routine, getting used to running every day.”
A passionate fundraiser and having already completed the Etape Loch Ness for Macmillan, Stevie decided to sign up for the Outrun after a close friend of his was diagnosed with bowl cancer at the age of 35.
“The Macmillan nurses do an incredible job but they need the funding to keep providing the service and support they do. Having someone close to me affected by cancer, especially at such a young age, has really strengthened my connection to the charity,” says Stevie.
“My bit is easy, it’s just a bit of running. What they do is incredible and needs the financial support so I hope that a lot of our students will get involved.
“Students who fundraise and volunteer are not only helping the many worthwhile causes but they are also making a massive difference to the way employers look at their job applications, especially at a time when the labour market isn’t as buoyant as in previous years.
“It’s the extra-curricular work which can tip a job in your favour and the great thing about our set-up at RGU:Union is that we’ll find students the ideal role, which is relevant to their interests and fitted around their available time and other commitments.”
Stevie is organising a fundraising music gig on Thursday, October 1 at Cellar 35 in Aberdeen, with all proceeds raised added to the Outrun September fundraising total. Entry will be a suggested donation of £5 or whatever people can afford.
Any student who is interesting in signing up for the Outrun can do so at http://out-run.org.uk/
If you would like to help Stevie with his fundraising target of £500 for the Outrun, visit https://www.justgiving.com/Stevie-Kearney1
For more information on the student volunteering and development opportunities at RGU, contact Stevie Kearney on ext.kearney@rgu.ac.uk or visit http://www.rguunion.co.uk/getinvolved/volunteering/