In June 2018, a partnership between parkrun UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners saw the launch of the parkrun practice initiative. To mark the two year anniversary, parkrun Global Head of Health and Wellbeing Chrissie Wellington talks us through its conception, some life changing moments, and our hopes for the future. …
Last weekend saw an NHS takeover at Cirencester parkrun in Gloucestershire in an effort to promote physical activity and encourage Cirencester Hospital staff and patients to take part at parkrun. The NHS takeover was the brainchild of David Lattimore, Co-Event Director of Cirencester parkrun and Linda Edwards, Matron at Cirencester Hospital. The two have worked closely…
In March this year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had to decide whether to have radiotherapy or have my prostate removed (radical prostatectomy). Without going into detail, I weighed up these options and chose surgery. The operation was carried out at the end of April and went extremely well. My post-operation recovery…
parkrun UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners are set to launch a groundbreaking initiative that could see thousands of patients being ‘prescribed’ outdoor physical activity rather than medication. The initiative aims to improve the health and wellbeing of health care staff, patients and carers, reducing the need for lifelong medication. In 2017,…
More than 146,000 people got involved in parkrun events around the UK on Saturday 9 June as parkrun and the NHS joined forces to celebrate 70 years of the health service. 135,318 walkers and runners completed a parkrun, 8,942 of those were completing their first-ever parkrun, thanks to the support of 11,188 volunteers. …
This is our little boy Louis, who has Down’s Syndrome, volunteering at Peterborough parkrun and giving one of the runners a ‘high five’. For us however, the photo has great poignancy as the woman is not just any runner – her name is Dr Yong and several years ago she saved Louis’ life. Louis…
My name is Sarah Byatt and I am the Executive Assistant to the Medical Director at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. I have worked at the Trust for almost 11 years. I took part in my first parkrun in March 2013 after reading about it in the local press and hearing people…
“Walking is the best medicine” Hippocrates, 470 BC Adults are more than 20% less active since the 1960s, by 2030 it is predicted we will be 35% less active. This is a shocking statistic. In my role as a practice nurse, I have been recommending a treatment that has had fantastic health outcomes…
What fantastic British institutions: parkrun (or is that parkfun?) and the National Health Service (NHS). So how fitting that parkrun has teamed up with the NHS to celebrate 70 years of the health service? parkrun has certainly helped with my return to fitness and without our fantastic NHS and dedicated staff, I may not be…
More than 85,000 people are expected to take part in a special parkrun UK event on Saturday 9 June 2018 to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday. Backed by double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, parkrun for the NHS is the first event of its type. Staff from all parts of the NHS,…
