UEL student fundraises for BBC Children in Need challenge
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Published
21 November 2025
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University of East London student, 20-year-old Jude Geoghegan, has completed a fundraising walk for BBC Children in Need. Jude is an ambassador for Shine, a charity supporting children and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, which is part-funded by BBC Children in Need.
Jude, who was born with spina bifida, completed an 8km walk alongside BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox on Thursday 13 November, the penultimate day of her Great Northern Marathon Challenge.
Despite undergoing multiple surgeries to improve his mobility, Jude has embraced sport at every opportunity. He is currently undertaking his BA in Sports Journalism within the School of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of East London, with ambitions to become a sports coach, journalist or broadcaster.
In addition to his studies at UEL, Jude is an active football player and coach himself; his work as the founder of an inclusion team at Estudiantes in North London led to him being named Coach of the Year - Disability Pathway at the Grassroots Football Awards in August 2025.
Reflecting on the challenge, Jude said:
The hills were the hardest part, but thinking about the visibility and support this gives to Shine kept me going. Speaking with Sara was inspiring, and hearing her highs and lows made me want to push on.”
“It’s incredible that someone who was once as shy as me would be studying for a career as a sports broadcaster, and to be part of something like The One Show’s Challenge Squad,” said Jude. “I wanted to raise awareness of spina bifida and help support BBC Children in Need. I still can’t believe the Challenge Squad has raised over £2.1 million.”
“We are immensely proud of Jude and his participation in this year’s BBC Children in Need Challenge, which has inspired both our staff and students,” said Dr Renata Brandao, Senior Lecturer at the University of East London’s Department of Media, School of Arts and Creative Industries.
“The resilience and determination he showed in his fundraising walk for Shine reflects the core values we nurture at the University of East London, particularly his commitment to community engagement and positive change.
As 2025 marks UEL’s Year of Health, it’s inspiring to see a student connecting his passion for sport and journalism with the wider theme of health and wellbeing. Jude is a powerful example of how media and journalism can make a meaningful difference.
“We are thrilled he has chosen UEL to pursue his BA in Sports Journalism, and we have no doubt that this experience will be invaluable as he develops his future career.”
Asked what advice he would give other young people with disabilities hoping to break into sport or sports journalism, Jude said:
"Surrounding yourself with the right people to encourage and guide you is so important. Diversity and disability need greater visibility in sports journalism, but we also need more representation - actually being the ones behind the camera or on the news desk telling those stories. Representation isn’t just about who’s playing; it’s also about who shapes the narrative.
“You deserve to bring your lived experiences to the table, which is what I'm hoping to do in my future career."
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