Running, Athletics and Cross Country Club: Welfare Officer

Running has always been my safe space, allowing me to stay active and letting me relax and destress. Participating in RAX the past year has fostered my love of running even further, by giving me the opportunity to connect with people who share the same passion for running as I do. 

As your Welfare Officer, I will put my utmost effort into making RAX's events and overall environment as much of a safe space as I find running to be. To do this, I will hold casual, drop-in sessions for RAX over the year where anyone can come and have a coffee! I will always be open to suggestions and feedback for events to better the society. 

If elected, I will endeavour to make RAX's various events as fun and welcoming as possible, by regularly participating in club events and socials (pot lucks!! LUCA!! and so much more), as well as acting as a mediator for any possible issues that may arise within the society.

I hope to be a friendly face and someone anyone can come to in the society if they ever need any form of guidance or help :)

Hey everyone!

Its Flo - I am a second year PPE student from Cyprus and a member of RAX since day 1 at UCL :)

I'm thrilled to nominate myself for the role of Welfare Officer in our awesome soc next year!

As a dedicated runner, and a competitive athlete in other sports (waterki racer, alpine ski racer and trialthete 🤪), I have experienced the highs and lows of sports firsthand and I understand the significance of prioritizing mental health and well-being.

I've come to appreciate the importance of lending a listening ear, offering support, and maintaining confidentiality when needed. My passion for both the physical and mental aspects of sports drives me to create a nurturing environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported.

I envision hosting 'Wellness Days' featuring themed discussions on topics like resilience, mindfulness, and goal-setting, providing valuable insights and tools for personal growth. Furthermore, let's embrace our social runs for ‘Run Talks’, where we combine our love for running with meaningful conversations, promoting both physical activity and mental well-being.

My goal is to foster a sense of community and connection among us. Whether it's through catch-up sessions over tea or engaging in unique events designed to promote well-being, I am committed to bringing us closer together.

I am genuinely looking forward to the opportunity to serve RAX with love and compassion and I would much appreciate your support to make this happen🫶

I began running with my mum during Covid and loved being outside and chatting. As I enjoyed it, running became ingrained into my routine and my way of overcoming stress. I firmly believe that anyone can begin running - I initially couldn’t run far or fast but have massively improved my endurance and pace. 

Last year I was in Honduras and couldn’t run for safety reasons but began again after a few months, reaping the mental and physical benefits. Running allowed me to overcome anorexia and I want to use my experience within the position of Welfare Officer to support anyone building a more positive mindset around running.

I’ve been injured recently and was really down. However, by focusing on strength training, I can still support my running. I understand how mentally challenging it is to be injured and as Welfare Officer, I will share which strategies have helped me.

I work at Gymshark where positive mental health is crucial to fitness. I have promoted various events to help athletes mentally and physically, from holistic methods like meditation and yoga to informative events like the importance of hybrid training and training around your menstrual cycle. I was also fortunate enough to meet Anna Archer, a fitness influencer and mental health advocate.

As a Welfare Officer, I will hold drop-in sessions and collaborate with brands to organise events. I’d love the opportunity to put my ideas into action to improve the wellbeing of our runners and you can help me by voting!