Podiatry staff and students go the extra mile at the London Marathon

Final year students David Cullen and Taylor Hoather attended alongside Podiatry Lecturer Kimberley Wilde and Podiatry Clinical Tutor Lizzi Channon. Working with teams of physiotherapists, medics, and St John’s Ambulance staff, they provided treatment for blisters, abrasions from falls, cramp and muscle sprains, and loose toenails.

The opportunity allowed the students to showcase their skills in podiatry and gave both the students and staff present the opportunity to enhance clinical learning, collaboration and professional development.

Taylor shared: “As I have a strong passion for running myself, I was really keen to get involved.

“The day itself was amazing – very fast-paced, but such a great experience being thrown in at the deep end, getting stuck in, and seeing a wide variety of cases.

“It was also incredibly valuable working alongside other podiatrists and learning how different clinicians approach treatment.

“One of the more challenging aspects was having to think quickly and adapt in such a busy, high-pressure environment.

“It’s hard to pick one favourite moment as I genuinely loved the entire experience – it's definitely a podiatry core memory for me, and something I would love to be a part of every year.”

Kimberley said, “Lizzi and I were present to supervise Taylor and David; however, they required minimal support.

“Their skills, knowledge, and professionalism clearly reflect the excellent podiatrists they have become.

“We are very grateful for the effort and investment the University has made in supporting our attendance at this event."