Welcome – and please read on

This page has been set up by Harry’s family to help create a lasting legacy to ‘pay forward’ all the love that has been shared with them since his sudden death at the age of 21 from a cardiac arrest triggered by Septic Shock (an acute form of Sepsis) on 20 February 2019.

The Harry Lownds Memorial Fund offers scholarship support to a graduate student at the University of Sussex whose personal circumstances might otherwise prevent them undertaking the Master of Science degree in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology.

Studying Genetics was Harry’s dream and he had planned to start this course in September 2019 following completion of his BSc in Genetics at Sussex.  Harry had a lifelong love of science which he expressed eloquently in his Personal Statement when he applied for a place at University (you can read it here “Harry’s Personal Statement“)

Donations to the fund can be made via the University of Sussex Alumni website or that of the American Friends of the University of Sussex, allowing UK taxpayers to claim Gift Aid and US taxpayers to deduct relevant taxes.  Links to both sites are below.  

If you are in the UK please donate here: University of Sussex

If you are in the US please donate here: Friends of University of Sussex   On the Friends website, please use the ‘special purpose’ box to specify that you would like your donation to be earmarked to the Harry Lownds Memorial Fund.

Please also feel free to use the ‘comments’ box on either site to pass on other messages, however Harry’s family can also be contacted directly by emailing: familylownds@gmail.com

2022’s Harry Lownds Scholarship recipient and Autumn 2022 Supporter Report

Cover

We hope you enjoy reading their truly inspirational updates every bit as much as we have.

2021-22 Scholar

Matt returned to Falmer on 3 August for a reunion of the ‘Class of ’83’ University of Sussex Mountaineering Club.  While there he and his fellow old-time USMCers had lunch with the 2021-22 recipient of the Harry Lownds memorial scholarship – and enthusiastic hill walker – Zac De Moor.  It was a real pleasure to spend some time with Zac and hear about how his genetics studies are going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was also a great opportunity to get together again with Rob Yates, UoS’s Head of Development, who along with his colleagues in the Alumni team has done so much to help us build and sustain the scholarship fund.

2020-21 Sussex Life Sciences Graduation

Despite twinges from the previous weekend’s fundraising hike Matt and Harry’s sister Evie headed down to Brighton on Monday 11 July to attend the 2020-2021 University of Sussex School of Life Sciences graduation ceremony.  They were there to congratulate Callum Loader – the 2020-21 recipient of the Harry Lownds memorial scholarship – on the completion of his studies for the MSc in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology.

 

 

 

 

Peak District Ultra Challenge 2022

Over the weekend of 9-10 July Matt completed the Peak District Ultra Challenge taking him in a 100 km figure of eight from Bakewell showground to raise money for the Harry Lownds Memorial Scholarship.

Peak District UltraChallenge start

 

 

 

 

The first day’s route wound its way in baking sunshine through the grounds of Chatsworth to Baslow and Calver then on to Wardlow and Tideswell, Miller’s Dale, Taddington, Deep Dale, Monsall Head, Great Longstone and back down to Bakewell. Despite the day’s heat a chilly night in a tent by the finish line ensued – sleep was interrupted by finishers of the non-stop challenge including Becky’s cousins James and Tom Kerry who were raising funds for Mesothelioma UK in memory of their Dad, David.

Continue reading “Peak District Ultra Challenge 2022”

2022 ‘Walk for Harry’ challenges

Our 2022 charity fundraising efforts in Harry’s memory kicked off with Becky’s 106km UltraChallenge hike around the isle of Wight on 30 April and 1 May. Read more about her and her brother Neil’s efforts to raise funds for Sepsis Research FEAT at: https://www.justgiving.com/becnmatt-lownds
and see some highlights of their adventure here

 

 

 

 

 

In July Matt will be undertaking the Peak District UltraChallenge across the familiar ground of the White Peak – including traversing from Grangemill to Brightgate a stone’s throw from his childhood home in Bonsall. He will be fundraising for the Harry Lownds Memorial Scholarship at the University of Sussex through https://www.justgiving.com/matt-lownds-pduc22

2021’s Harry Lownds Scholarship recipient and Autumn 2021 Supporter Report

Thames Pathway UltraChallenge

To round off 2021’s UltraChallenge season Becky joined her friend Abi on Sunday 12 September to undertake the second day of the Thames Pathway.  This took them from a dawn start in the mists of Runnymede to an Indian Summer evening finish along the Regatta Course into Henley.  We are very grateful to Abi for her fundraising efforts which considerably boosted the total Becky had raised earlier in the year for Sepsis Research FEAT.

South West Coast to Coast UltraChallenge

The weekend of 24-25 July saw Becky complete the UltraChallenge Coast to Coast 105km hike from Minehead on the North Somerset coast to Dawlish on the South Devon coast. She was joined by Harry’s sister Rosie. Their efforts – including an epic crossing of the eastern edge of Exmoor in horizontal driving rain – succeeded in raising in excess of £1,000 for the charity Sepsis Research FEAT.