St Mary’s Raises Money in Memory of Student

St Mary’s University College, Twickenham recently hosted a charity rowing event in memory of Physical and Sport Education student Bethan O’Brien, who sadly passed away earlier this year. The event raised £168 with all proceeds going to the ‘Get Kids Going’ charity, which Bethan supported. Get Kids Going was founded in 1997 and helps disabled young people (and aspiring Paralympians) compete in the sports they love by helping to fund travel, accommodation and the specialist equipment they need. Paralympic Gold medallist David Weir, who trains at Sports St Mary’s, has been supported by the charity and is now its Vice President. The event saw individuals form small groups, with each participant rowing 1km each. The aim was to row 40km, the equivalent distance from Teddington Lock to Big Ben along the River Thames. At least 15 members of staff participated in the charity row, including Vice Principal David Leen, Sports Officer Tegan Pickles, Students’ Union President Aedan McDonagh, and Athletics Union President Pietro Palladino. The event formed part of the first 2013 British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) University Indoor Rowing Series and students from Surrey University, who were competing, also took part in the fundraising event. Over 50 students from six universities took part in the BUCS Competition, with St Mary’s winning in the heavyweight men’s and lightweight women’s categories.