‘Run for Redfern’: more than 60 joggers join Leicester fundraising challenge in memory of much-loved former DMU student

By Alfie Linville-Sibley

The second annual ‘Run for Redfern’ arrived at the steps of the De Montfort University student union at the weekend as scores of joggers honoured the memory of much-loved DMU alumnus Adam Redfern.

The air was filled with cheers and applause on Sunday as students, staff, and Adam’s friends crossed the finish line, blazing red in their ‘Run for Redfern’ tees, after the completing the 5km course across Leicester from Victoria Park to the heart of the DMU campus. 

More than 60 runners took part in the run, raising up to £1,500 for the Adam Redfern Memorial Fund, which provides a student scholarship and aims to make DMU a ‘heart safe campus’. Adam died of a sudden heart attack while out jogging in March 2021. He was just 28.

After starting at 11am, all the runners were over the line by noon. Following the race, Adam’s parents, Christine and Ian Redfern, gave a short speech to the runners in the DSU in front of a banner bearing a picture of their son.

“We wanted to give everybody a chance to run and remember Adam this year, and seeing this growth in just one year is amazing,” Ian said.

The first ‘Run for Redfern was held in 2022, with eight of Adam’s friends running on a sponsorship basis. Between them, they raised £3,000 for the memorial fund.

Elgan Hughes, one of those original eight, said: “Seeing so many students sat in the Union on a cold Sunday morning like this is amazing. After last year we realised Adam deserved something bigger to remember him, so we decided to open it up to everyone this year.”

“Hopefully next year everyone that’s here today will bring a friend along, and then the same will happen the year after, that’s the ultimate goal,” Elgan said.

“It was a big job to organise this, between the council and the staff at the Union and De Montfort everybody involved was fantastic. Hopefully, we’ll see you all again next March for an even bigger Run for Redfern,” Ian Redfern said.

Adam Redfern

The memorial fund keeps Adam’s memory alive by creating opportunities for students with a flair for journalism, media or sport through a scholarship, allowing third-year students the chance to pursue their passions.

Adam, who has been described as “the best of DMU in one person”, was a Journalism (BA) graduate who went on to work as part of the Student Union and later joined DMU’s social media team.

Christine Redfern said: “The first scholarship has gone out this year to a film student, and seeing what she’s doing with the opportunity is amazing.”

The memorial foundation is also aiming to fund the installation and related training for on-campus defibrillators to make DMU ‘heart safe’ and raise awareness for SADS (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome), when someone dies following an unexplained cardiac arrest.

Runner Richard Bowden, a former colleague of Adam’s, said: “Adam was always looking for opportunities to support students. He made lots of DSU roles paid so students would be more rewarded and the DSU would be better staffed.”

Click here to make a donation to the Adam Redfern Memorial Fund.

DMU students delighted to be on stage for Graduations

By Caitlin Kirkley, Esha Sancee and Charlie Dowey

Last week De Montfort University (DMU) students across a range of faculties returned to Leicester’s Curve Theatre for their graduation ceremonies.

Family and friends filled the theatre, all desperately waiting to see loved ones cross the stage and celebrate their achievements.

photography of people graduating
Photo by Emily Ranquist on Pexels.com

The university also ensured that those who could not attend in-person still felt part of the day thanks to the livestreams posted to the university’s YouTube channel.

Importantly, the Covid pandemic resulted in big changes for graduation ceremonies at that time, because of social distancing measures leading to some understandable disappointment, but this year things were different.

Manali Jain

Student Manali Jain, who was awarded her Master of Science in Strategic & Digital Marketing, said she was “over the moon” with the experience she had at her recent graduation ceremony.

She noted that the ceremony ran smoothly from start to finish and there was plenty of assistance from staff ‘at every step.’

On the day, she received a free DMU badge as well as a bag and described the event as ‘the biggest day of her life.’

Her family were able to view everything directly from the YouTube livestream. The use of the livestream extended the reach of the ceremony allowing people to view the event from around the world.

Additionally, all livestreams can be watched back endlessly by the graduates themselves for those looking to relive their moment of stardom.

Lecturer Brian Dodds was among those staff on the platform stage to congratulate graduating Journalism students last Thursday.

He stated that after graduations had to be postponed for some students for up to two years due to the pandemic, the recent ceremony was a “joyous moment full of pride and achievements which was wonderful to see.”

He followed this, saying that the day is full of important moments, not only the formal ceremony but it also includes spending time with loved ones and having lots of photos taken.

In summary, he described it as a heartwarming and ‘proud moment’ to finally see students that he has worked with for several years complete their studies.

Find more at: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/home.aspx

20.02.2023

VIDEO: Leicester hosts spectacular Chinese New Year celebrations and parade

By Azim Saiyed

The Chinese New Year began with crowds flocking the streets of Leicester to parade from De Montfort University to Green Dragon Square which was all organised by Cosmopolitan Arts.

Yingjun Yang, director of the DMU Confucius Institute, said: “DMU Confucius Institute is happy and proud to be able to hold events for the Chinese New Year every year with the support from colleagues, friends, partners, and communities both at DMU and in Leicester.

“The Chinese take this occasion as a good time for forgiveness, compromises, and mutual understanding. They choose to forget old grudges and grievances for a better year of mutual harmony and peace among themselves, with others and for all fellow beings.”

This year, Cosmopolitan Arts planned to set up events in Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. It also carried out thorough research into the Chinese migration to the East Midlands.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the traditional dances and the red dragon costume dance at the front of the parade.

The event, held on Sunday, January 22, was capped off by spectacular dazzling fireworks at the Green Dragon Square, which is next to the Leicester market.

For more information, visit: www.cosmopolitanarts.co.uk.

MORE RELATED STORIES: Chinese New Year celebration events planned in Leicester

Mental health issues on the rise in Leicester hospital staff

By Courtney Stevens

The Number of NHS staff in Leicester hospitals who have reported absent due to depression and anxiety has increased since the start of the pandemic. 

Over the pandemic NHS staff have been under a lot of pressure to keep everyone safe and healthy which has led to an increase in depression, anxiety, burnout and other mental health issues. 

Becca McDonald, a third-year nursing student at De Montfort University, said her mental health has suffered during the pandemic: 

“I’ve found my social anxiety is a lot higher now and I’m finding it difficult to adapt back to normal.’ 

“I’ve noticed stress levels increasing drastically since the pandemic with lots of healthcare staff having to take time off due to their mental health or stress.”  

Figures show that between September 2018 and October 2019 there were 1,320 members of staff who reported absent due to mental health issues compared to 1,768 members of staff who reported absent between September 2020 and October 2021. 

Miss McDonald has noticed the impact the pandemic has had on NHS staff: 

“I try to avoid taking days off and I push myself to be productive, saying that, I have had to take one or two days off because of being completely exhausted and I know that I can’t practice safely if I’m not mentally equipped.’ 

“Lots of staff have left their jobs, either because of long covid making them too ill to work in healthcare anymore, or because of the issues that went on during the pandemic causing people to dislike their job and finding it better to leave.”  

Figures also show that there is a difference in the number of men reporting absent compared to the number of women.  

Between September 2018 and October 2019, there were 1,169 women and 151 men who reported absent compared to 1,549 women and 219 men who reported absent between September 2020 and October 2021. 

During the pandemic staff were offered extra support due to the rise of depression and anxiety that they were experiencing.  

40 well-being hubs that were opened to give all health and social care staff access to psychologists. 

Miss McDonald said there is support available to her through the university: 

“The well-being team are incredible, offering six-week blocks of counselling when required.  

“I am also aware of NHS staff being signposted to classes such as meditation or yoga to help those that may benefit from them.”  

Genesis tribute band The Musical Box set to play at De Montfort Hall in Leicester

By Courtney Stevens

The Musical Box performing at one of their shows (Image: publicity picture)

Genesis tribute band The Musical Box are set to play at De Montfort Hall in Leicester on Wednesday, February 8, as part of their global tour The Lamb lies down on Broadway.

The band will be playing all over the UK in February, starting off in York on February 2 and finishing off in Portsmouth on February 18.

The Musical Box are a Canadian tribute band for English Rock band Genesis, re-enacting their performances from the 1970s.

The current line-up includes singer Denis Gagne, guitarist Francois Gagnon, bassist Sebastien Lamothe, keyboardist Ian Benhamou, and drummer Marc Laflamme.

This tour will be re-creating the original band’s 1974 – 1975 show And the light lies down on Broadway, and will be complete with costumes, instruments and lighting.

The band promises a set that will take fans right back to Genesis’ 1970s peak with everything down to the setlists being identical to those played by the original band.

Since The Musical Box’s creation in 1993, they have performed shows across Canada, the US, Europe, and South America.

The band are also the only Genesis band to have received active support and permission from the original group, with members of the band being part of the audience or even appearing on stage with them.

Tickets are available now from https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/the-musical-box