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Meet Mathura, the medical student raising money to tackle barriers to participation at UCL
Mathura Kathirgamanathan will be one of the 55,000 people taking part in the 2026 London Marathon on Sunday 26 April. A fifth-year medical student, she'll be the first ever student to run the marathon on behalf of a Students' Union. She's raising money for our Student Participation Fund - helping students who are facing financial barriers to get involved in the activities and experiences that make life here at UCL unforgettable.
What is the Student Participation Fund?
Our Participation Fund is a pot of money to support current UCL students who are experiencing financial hardship and are therefore facing significant financial barriers accessing Students’ Union UCL clubs and societies as well as any other co-curricular or extra-curricular activities. Students have used our fund to:
- Pay the membership fee to join a club or society
- Join the TeamUCL Gym
- The costs of taking part in club or society core activity
- Taking part in a voluntary activity with a local group or charity
- & lots more!
Mathura's journey so far
The journey for Mathura is a personal one - she's seen firsthand how transformative the Student Participation Fund can be for students. With the rising cost of rent and living expenses, many students face difficult choices: skipping meals, missing out on social opportunities, or being unable to join the clubs and societies that make university life so special. Mathura was in this position herself, so she feels strongly about how impactful the Students' Union's Participation Fund can be for a student.
As President of RUMS Boat Club, Mathura is passionate about ensuring no one misses out on the chance to join a team, try something new, or find their community because of financial worries. She's accessed the fund in order to afford her British Rowing membership, compete, and even qualify for Henley last year, something she once thought was impossible. Rowing has been a huge source of confidence, health, and happiness for Mathura, and she wants every student to have access to that same opportunity.
Mathura in conversation with Dr Michael Spence, President & Provost of UCL, about her role as President of Boat Club, balancing training with her studies, and why this particular cause is close to her heart:
Help Mathura get to 26.2
Support the cause and help fellow students access the activities and experiences that make uni life unforgettable
Check out Mathura's fundraising page and help her on her journey to raising £26.2K!
Track Mathura's journey
The 2026 London Marathon takes place Sunday 26 April. You can follow Mathura's journey by downloading the TCS London Marathon app, and typing in her full name: Mathura Kathirgamanathan.
We've been sharing updates on Mathura's training and progress over on our instagram - make sure to follow us for all of the latest updates.
If you're planning on attending the event, we hope you'll join us in cheering Mathura on - we're incredibly proud of her journey and her efforts!
Are you running the London Marathon?
If you're running the London Marathon for a cause, we'd love to hear your story. Email [email protected] with your name, a few lines about the charity you're running for, and a link to your donation page. We'll add them in here!