Alumni join forces for charity
16th January 2024
Alumna and former University of Gloucestershire staff member, Lorea Sarobe, is raising vital funds for Heidi’s Heroes by running the TCS London Marathon in April 2024.
The charity is a tribute to Heidi Wood, a former world championship swimmer, who died from cancer in 2012, aged 51. It aims to provide support for those with cancer and their families, care for those coping with bereavement, and courage for children learning to swim.
Lorea was inspired to raise money for the charity after meeting elite athlete Millie Wood, Heidi’s daughter, who studied at University of Gloucestershire. She is now working with a team of alumni and current students to ensure she is in peak condition, undertaking a VO2 max and lactate threshold test at the start her training in November at the University’s Oxstalls campus.
Lorea said: “The tests help estimate my fitness levels and whether training is having a positive effect, as well as offering students an opportunity to do this with a real person with certain fitness goals.”
Lorea, an Erasmus exchange student from the University of the Basque Country in Spain, studied Sport and Exercise BSc, followed by a MSc in Physical Activity and Public Health at the University of Gloucestershire. She is now Director of Physical Activity and Wellbeing at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the expertise of alumni and former staff at the university are helping Lorea with her nutrition and recovery goals. She will be returning to campus for follow up tests closer to the London Marathon, which takes place on 21 April, 2024.
“My training plan is being provided by alumnus Huw Griffiths,” added Lorea, “and I am also being supported by NutritionX, a local company created by another alumnus, James Markey. For my recovery, I am using Octagon Sports Therapy and Massage in Cheltenham, which is a clinic set by alumuna and former colleague, Carly Williams.
“This really is a team effort, and I can’t wait to raise more funds for this amazing charity.”