Hi! We are five student athletes from the Univeristy of Birmingham competing in middle- and long-distance running. Each of us have been selected to represent Great Britain at the World University Games this summer in Germany, across events ranging from the 800m the up to Half Marathon.

Unlike many national teams, the costs of attending the event aren’t covered by UK Athletics or British Universities and Colleges Sport. As a result, each of us needs to raise £1,000 to cover accommodation, food, kit, entry fees, and medical support. In addition, we must cover our own flights to and from Düsseldorf, which cost around £120 each.

Every donation—no matter the size—brings us one step closer to representing Great Britain on the world stage. Without your support, this opportunity wouldn’t be financially possible for us.

Meet the team:

Ben Gardiner (800m): Master’s in Law student from Bromley and 2× British University 800m Champion

Tom Bridger (3000m Steeplechase): Master’s in Mathematics student from Cambridge and 2× British University Steeplechase Champion

Ollie Smart (5000m): Master’s in Investment student from Devon and 2× British University Cross Country Bronze Medalist

Isaac Hirshman (10,000m): Final-year Law student from London and British University 5000m Bronze Medalist

Fin Proffitt (Half Marathon): Final-year Accounting and Finance student from Macclesfield and former England Cross Country representative

Thank you so much for reading. Your support means the world to us—being able to participate in this event would be a huge milestone in our athletic careers.

If we're able to go, the event will be broadcast live on Eurosport and streamed on Discovery+ and Max, from 21st–28th July. We’d love for you to watch us compete and be part of the journey!