UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER staff will be pounding the streets of Birmingham for the city’s half marathon on Sunday, October 15, in memory of one of its students tragically killed in the Tunisian terror attack.
The staff will be running to help raise cash for the Smile for Joel charity. It was set up in memory of Joel Richards by is family to help support families who are victims of murder and terrorism.
Joel, who was studying PE and Sports Coaching Science at the University of Worcester, was one of 30 people killed in the 2015 atrocity at the age of 19.
His uncle and grandfather were also killed while his younger brother Owen survived. Owen has just started studying at the university and praised those lining up at the start on Sunday.
He said: “Joel was passionate about running himself and he’d done the same Birmingham Half Marathon and the Bath Half Marathon.
“It’s really nice that they’re doing the same event that Joel did in the past to honour him from the university community.”
The charity is aiming to raise at least £500. The staff taking part are Charlie Bassett, Mark Kilburn, Brian Crawford, Steve Harborne and Neil Laurenson.
Ahead of the event Mark said: ‘We all feel particularly proud to be supporting the charity due to Joel’s connection with the University before his life was cut so tragically short.”
