Solent students support runners at the London Marathon

In partnership with four leading charities – Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, Guy’s Cancer Charity, Evelina London Children’s Charity, and the MS Trust – 29 students provided a range of muscular treatments to help runners recover from their 26.2-mile efforts. Students were supervised by Course Leader Lynsey Northeast and Lecturer Natasha Furnell.

Working in busy post-race recovery areas, the students applied their professional training to help reduce soreness, promote healing, and ensure runners left the finish line in better shape.

Sports and Exercise Therapy Course Lead, Lynsey Northeast, said:

“The London Marathon provides an exceptional opportunity for our students to apply their skills in a high-pressure, real-world environment. To have 29 willing volunteers there on the day was fantastic, and it was great to see the impact they were having.

“This is something that we’ve been lucky to offer all of our Sports and Exercise Therapy students since 2019, giving them the chance to work with inspirational athletes supporting fantastic charities.”

Adding to the day’s success, Solent alumnus Mahamed Mahamed secured a top-10 finish in the elite men's race, crossing the line in an impressive time of 2:08:52 to claim ninth place.

Solent University’s Sports and Exercise Therapy course is accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists (SST). Students benefit from access to industry placements, scholarships, job opportunities, and resources – including insurance coverage for work-based learning.

Placement opportunities include working with some of the UK’s top sports teams, offering unrivalled experience even before graduation.

Any student studying on a sports related course can also benefit from the use of a state-of-the-art sports complex, which offers a range of advanced facilities designed to enhance both learning and practical experience. The complex includes two sports halls, dedicated strength and conditioning and teaching gyms, and a specialised sport and exercise therapy floor. The therapy floor is equipped with three bespoke clinic spaces, providing an ideal environment for students to practice their skills in a real-world setting, treating athletes and clients under the supervision of experienced faculty members.