Social justice activist Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is 'honoured' to receive Honorary Doctorate

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the University of Gloucestershire in recognition of her sporting achievements and social justice activism around mental health and racism.

Sabrina is an ultra runner, author, social justice activist and co-founder of Black Trail Runners, a volunteer-run charity which aims to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of people of Black ethnicity in the outdoors via the act of trail running.

She ran a successful Gloucestershire based PR business for many years and is also travels around the world as a motivational public speaker.

Sabrina, who received her Honorary Fellowship at the fifth of the University’s six 2024 Graduation Ceremonies at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “I am so honoured to have been nominated. When I realised it was real, I was speechless. Having never had the opportunity to go into higher education due to life circumstances, this really is a special moment for me.

“I dedicate this to my children, my grandchildren and any human who has ever felt othered. Never forget that you are, and have always been, enough.”

Sabrina was three when her parents separated, and she and her younger sister moved to Stroud. She faced bullying, abuse and isolation, growing up as a black mixed-race child in a majority white community.

At the age of 44, she wrote her story Black Sheep: A Story of Rural Racism, Community and Hope, which was published in 2022 and gave an account of Sabrina’s experiences of overcoming adversity, becoming a teenage mother, her battle with alcoholism, and how running changed and saved her life.

Sabrina said: “First and foremost, my inspiration is my children and grandchildren. Everything I do is to show them that they can be the change that they want to see in the world. I believe that it is up to us individually to be the change that we wish to see.

“By doing that, we inspire others to know their individual and collective voices can be used for good.”

Sabrina is a mother of four and grandmother of three and lives in Stroud with her family.

Sabrina was selected to take part in BBC’s Survivor UK series in 2023. In November 2023, Sabrina featured on the cover of Runner’s World, a running magazine, where she shared her thoughts about culture, community and the future of running.