Paramedic Science students and staff show they are up to the TASC with fundraiser

GCU’s Paramedic Science programme brought some warmth to a chilly Glasgow Green last week with their very own Santa Dash.

Modeled on the well-known Glasgow event, staff and students braved the elements to take on a 5km route for charity in running shoes, winter woolies and even an inflatable Christmas tree outfit!

First year student Iain MacDonald said: “Our programme lead, Samantha Paterson had posted on Blackboard that she was looking for people to go along and do a bit of running to raise some money for TASC (The Ambulance Staff Charity).

I’m really not much of a runner, it was more the fact I wanted to go and support the people who were properly taking part. All the donations are going to a really good cause through TASC. It’s been a tough couple of years for them with all the pressure they’ve been under.”

Glaswegians enjoying a morning stroll may have had to do a double take as Iain made sure he went above and beyond to ensure he was dressed for the occasion.

He explained: “Sam’s notice said that it was ‘festive dress’, so I decided to go all in!

I went on to Amazon and saw there was a massive inflatable Christmas tree outfit and I just thought that it would work well. I bought it and then went along on the day, only to find everyone else just had Santa hats on! I was standing in my inflatable Christmas tree and there were just lots of people walking by glancing at me and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is really happening!’”

Despite having restricted movement thanks to his festive faux pas, Iain still enjoyed himself.

He said: “It was nice to just have people coming together again. It was also great to see the lecturers outside of an educational environment and have normal conversations that were nothing to do with the academic side of things.”

Paramedic Science programme lead, Samantha Paterson added: “We decided to raise money for TASC as they are the leading UK charity, supporting current and retired ambulance staff and their families. They do a lot of work to enhance mental and physical wellbeing during times of need.

As the future professional workforce, we recognise the value of TASC for all the ambulance family and wanted to help them fund their vital work.”

Samantha added: “A huge thank you to the students who took part and to all those who have supported us through donations to our JustGiving site. We are still a little short of target, so if anyone wishes to contribute, it would be greatly appreciated.”

You can keep up to date with the latest from the BSc Paramedic Science programme on Twitter

By Ross ClarK
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter