- University of Sheffield Student Support Manager, Jennie Stevens, will tackle Britain's most brutal endurance race to raise funds for student scholarships
- Money raised will support three fully-funded scholarships for women from disadvantaged backgrounds
- The Winter Spine is an epic non-stop race spanning 268 miles along the Pennine Way from Edale in the Peak District to the Scottish Borders
A Student Support Manager from the University of Sheffield is set to tackle one of Britain's most brutal endurance races to raise scholarship funds for disadvantaged students.
The Winter Spine Race, widely regarded as Britain's most brutal endurance race, is a non-stop 268 mile race along the Pennine Way. Beginning at Edale, competitors have a time limit of only 168 hours to reach the village of Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.
From 14-21 January 2024, Jennie will cross some of Britain’s most difficult terrain, including the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviots.
The challenge is set to test the most toughened athlete's physical resilience and mental fortitude, with two-thirds of the race taking place in darkness; competitors battling sleep deprivation, and suffering the worst of Britain’s winter weather.
As part of this challenge, Jennie will be fundraising to support three scholarships at the University of Sheffield for women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
As Student Support Manager at the University of Sheffield, Jennie works closely with students impacted by high living costs.
Jennie Stevens, Student Support Manager at the University of Sheffield, said: “There will be women out there who think university is something other people do, the thought of attending and potentially getting a degree makes them wide-eyed with excitement, but they need a little extra support and encouragement.
“This is an opportunity for me to be able to help other women achieve their own big dreams while achieving my own - and that’s a really big privilege, it’s added another level of motivation to my challenge.
“The idea of fundraising through the University came to me during a recent session about the financial support available to Widening Participation students. As I listened and learned what our University provides to its students, and where the money comes from, I thought - maybe I can raise money to add to these funds - what I’m doing is big - people might be interested!”
With a steadfast dedication to running since 2018, she's ready to elevate her game to new heights (10,000 metres to be precise) with this ultimate adventure.
Jennie added: “I’m no elite athlete - I’m a middle-of-the-pack fell-runner and part-time adventurer who likes to set big goals, see what I am capable of and how strong I can be.”
Related information
- Make a gift to Scholarships
- How Scholarships support Sheffield students
- Support Jennie's fundraising
