15 May 2026
"The Futures Fund is such an amazing cause, I couldn’t say no to this opportunity"
University Alum Craig Davies
A Sunderland cardiology specialist is taking to the road for the Sunderland City Runs for the university that supported him after he switched careers from serving as a Naval submariner.
Sunderland City Runs take place on Sunday 17 May with over 5,000 people taking part across the 10K, Half Marathon and new for this year, the 5K. 2026 marks the 15th anniversary of the first Sunderland City 10K in 2011, which had 1,500 people take part.
Craig Davies, 35, from Sunderland works as a Cardiac Physiologist at Sunderland Royal Hospital with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
A former submariner in the Royal Navy, Craig returned to his home town after finishing active service in 2012, and after working in various jobs, from media manager to postman, decided to retrain at the University of Sunderland.
Now, Craig is supporting his former university by taking part in the Sunderland City Runs as part of the University’s Futures Fund team. The Futures Fund provides financial support for students and graduates to develop their careers and aspirations.
You can donate to the University’s Futures Fund here.
Craig said: “At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic I decided to go back and study, funded by the Ministry of Defence. I had support from the University’s Hardship Fund during the pandemic, which I don't believe I could have completed my studies without.
“The support teams at the University are very empathetic and supportive without judgement and anything I could give back would be just a small part of my gratitude.”
Craig found the right course for him, BSc Cardiac Physiology, with the support of Sunderland lecturer and Associate of the School of Biosciences, Christopher Cox. He now works in a role he feels passionate about at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
“My role involved analysing ECG's and carrying out a number of diagnostic procedures such as exercise tolerance testing and supporting and monitoring during pacemaker implants and angiography.
“I have a nice balance of patient facing roles, as well as using technical skills which I enjoyed while in the navy.” Craig also volunteers for the RNLI. “The University was also very supporting of my role in the RNLI as a volunteer crewman throughout my studies,” he adds.
“I am an amateur runner, but I’ve got a bit of extra weight on me at the minute. But the Futures Fund is such an amazing cause, I couldn’t say no to this opportunity. I wouldn’t have my career if it wasn’t for the support of the University of Sunderland.”