Collaborative article by Amina Ali and Molly Lee
Run for Redfern 2025 has raised more than £1700 for the Adam Redfern Memorial Fund after a record number of participants.
The fund was set up in memory of beloved DMU colleague and journalism graduate, Adam Redfern, who died suddenly of a heart attack while out jogging in March 2021. Through various fundraising events, the fund supports aspiring media students by providing scholarships, bursaries and monetary awards.
Sunday, March 9, 2025, saw the return of the annual Run for Redfern event where participants ran, jogged or walked 5k from Victoria Park to De Montfort’s Student Union Building in Leicester.
Many others also joined across the UK by participating virtually.
The event was, undeniably, a massive success with more than double the number of participants than the previous year.
“Everything was going for us. We launched it back in October, we had a front runner that helped promote it, as well as Demon Media,” says Ian Redfern, Adam’s father.
The fastest male runner was Shaun John, who is a part of DMU Lacrosse. “It was great to finish the race and get first place – it was amazing.
“I just wanted to show some solidarity with my sports group. We came in here today and wanted to run, it’s a good cause and we really wanted to show up and support each other.”
Megan Gamble secured first place in the women’s category for the second time. She said she had done the run for the last few years to support the fund and take on a running challenge for herself.
Thomas Weir, Fundraising Manager at DMU, who supports the Fund’s events said: “It looks like everyone’s really enjoyed it and taken part in the spirit of what it’s intended as.
“Some people take it seriously, but most people are just here to have some fun and run with their friends, their family and support a really important cause.”
Thomas has supported the Adam Redfern Memorial Fund since it began. He even made a video showing what to do when someone suffers from a cardiac arrest in front of you. The video premiered after the run.
An award was also given to Demon Media for the society’s repeated effort to highlight the Memorial Fund and their coverage of the event.
With the mass success of this year’s run, Ian and Christine have decided to carry on the event annually, with more events in between in the future.
“The money raised reinforces the fact that Adam is still fondly remembered by a lot of people who come and take part in Run for Redfern every year. We know that events like this ensure that his legacy will continue.”
Places are still available for the Adam Redfern Memorial Tournament on May 31. To reserve your place, email adamredfernfund@gmail.com or message the Redfern Fund’s Instagram page.
If you’d like to learn CPR from the comfort of your own home, you can use the British Heart Foundation’s RevivR website.
Ian and Christine Redfern are now qualified to teach CPR, which they look forward to doing flexibly with DMU students, as part of DMU’s HeartSafe Campus initiative.
Featured image photo credit to Molly Lee
