From Salford
Alumni profile Brendan Rendall
4 years ago Brendan Rendall (BA (Hons) Fashion Design, 2004) was unfit, overweight and fed-up. Little did he know back then that a decision to get in shape would not only change his life, but enable him to make a difference and provide inspiration to many others too.
Moved by his encounters to try and make a difference to others, Brendan quit his job in retail management when he returned to the UK and started a new career as a support worker for families with Autistic children. Whilst content with his new vocation and healthier lifestyle, Brendan couldn’t forget the children he met in Malawi and continued to support the charity FOMO. In 2009 he ran his first London marathon and helped to raise £50,000 for a new skills centre, before returning to the country to spend 3 weeks distributing food and clothes and spending time with some of the 5,500 orphans that the charity supports.
S
ince then Brendan has channeled his new found love of fitness into completing punishing personal challenges in order to raise thousands of
pounds for two charities close to his heart, the Friends of Mulanje Orphans (FOMO) in Malawi and The National Autism Society here in the UK. He says: “In 2007 I was fed up with being overweight so took up running to get fit, this led me to get involved with an endurance challenge called Mission Malawi”.
The challenge was to undertake an epic two week bike ride across the impoverished African nation and the experience changed Brendan’s whole perspective on life: “I was so shocked and saddened at what I had seen. I had experienced poverty first hand and the realisation that so many children needed help.“
“ I decided to take on a huge challenge, not just to raise money but also awareness of both FOMO and The National Autistic Society.”
Brendan then began looking for the next big test on his fundraising mission: “I decided to take on a huge challenge, not just to raise money but also awareness of both FOMO and The National Autistic Society.” In 2011, and in an effort that took him from the North East Scottish coast, down to the South Western tip of England and across to London, the former Fashion Design student completed his most grueling challenge yet. In just 13 days from 3rd to 16th April, Brendan cycled the near 1000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End. But, his extreme journey wasn’t over at that point and he continued by running the London
Alumni Magazine 2011 23
Marathon the day after his punishing bike ride finished.
Brendan’s achievements are truly inspiring and the University was proud to sponsor his most recent efforts and help a past student with their worthwhile cause. Lawrie Perrins, Student Communications Manager said: “Brendan’s trip expresses many aspects of the ‘journey’ we hope everyone will take while at Salford - engagement with the community, an ethical worldview, sensitivity to international issues, personal drive and a commitment to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.”
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