Staff and students are invited to walk, jog or run and support the great work of Mind Your Mood.
A suggested minimum donation of £5 for staff and £2 for students is requested and each participant will receive a Santa hat.
There are different options for each campus, making it an event for all ages and abilities.
Santa Runs
Head of Sports Services, Dr Nigel Dobson said:
“It’s that time of year to put on your Santa hat and support a great cause! The Santa Run is a great opportunity for staff and students to come together to raise funds while also looking after their mental and physical wellbeing.
“Being physically active has been proven to have a positive influence on mental wellbeing and is a key facet of Mind Your Mood activities. Over the last two years we have been overwhelmed by the fundraising efforts by staff, students and alumni and the commitment that goes into taking part in events like the Santa Run and the Belfast City marathon.”
The Mind Your Mood campaign, managed by Student Support, is designed and delivered by students, to encourage peer engagement in breaking the stigma of poor mental health and raise awareness of the range of support available. Studies have found that over 75% of mental health problems are established before the age of 25, so this campaign is vital to encourage students to talk to each other and seek help for any mental health and wellbeing concerns during their time at University.
Former Ulster student and now Student Outreach and Recruitment Officer for the University, Olivia O’Hare, who has been positively affected by the work of Student Support, ran as part of a relay team in this year’s Belfast City Marathon and raised funds and awareness for Mind Your Mood. Olivia said:
“During a stressful and difficult time in my third year of University, Student Support at Ulster provided valuable help when I needed it most. They helped me work through this low time in my life with their counselling service, and now as a full-time staff member I can appreciate even more the work that they do for students.
“This year I ran as part of a relay team in the Belfast City Marathon for Mind Your Mood and would really encourage staff and students to take part in this year’s activities to support the great work that the Student Support provide.”