Marina Chan, Candidate for BL RAG Officer
Role Description: Raise & Give covers all the Students’ Union charity fundraising activity, and the RAG Officer (BLSA) works to create a positive charitable influence on campus as part of VP London’s Activities Zone. You’ll select and chair a student RAG committee for BLSA who will choose the nominated RAG charity for their year and find innovative, exciting ways to fundraise for this charity. You’ll engage hundreds of students a year through events and activities, work alongside the Student Engagement Coordinator (Student Media, RAG) staff member to support affiliated student groups in their fundraising and host challenges for individual students. This is a non-representative role and doesn’t sit on Student Council.
What's your favourite moment from being a student here?
My favourite moment at Barts has to be participating in Strictly Come Dancing last year. It was my first-time taking part as a contestant and it was the most incredible night of my 3 years at Barts. Being on stage with a stranger (who was a fresher), dancing my own choreography in front of a hundred people (and Leslie Robson) was unbelievably nerve wracking, and I was dying inside from the sheer excitement and anxiety. But honestly, it turned out so much better than I expected; we came 3rd despite being the youngest duo, and both of us were complimented on our dancing.
What's something you've done that you're proud of?
I’m proud of making my goal of a 2-night Strictly come true. Every year, Strictly attracts students from almost every sports club and is a key event in the Barts social calendar. Last year, I realised that one night is not enough and that we need to capitalise on this event because it the potential to raise even more money for RAG. So making this 2-night Strictly was one of my goals as President this year. With the help of my committee, the judges, hosts’ and dancers’ commitment, we made it happen and it was incredibly successful; the tickets sold out in under 48hrs and we raised ~£2500 for RAG!
What is a problem facing students and how do you propose to fix it?
Regarding RAG, I believe a problem facing students is that they don’t know what charities are chosen, what events are on (aside from Strictly and BNOC) and how much money is raised. I propose to fix this by ensuring that all of this information is released early and actively promoted on the RAG Instagram but also on the BLSA’s and on other clubs’ and societies’ Instagrams.
