parkrun and Senedd members committed to nurturing mental and physical health

On the morning of World Mental Health Day over 30 people gathered outside the Senedd for a social walk and run. The event was hosted by John Griffiths MS and parkrun, and was followed by a meeting in the Senedd.

In welcoming those who took part, John Griffiths MS said “I regularly take part in my local parkrun along the Newport riverfront, so it has been great to welcome the national organisers to the Senedd today for our own wellbeing run/walk event. Over the years I have seen it grow as an activity, including the development of junior parkrun, which my own grandson Cian now participates in at Tredegar House. Whatever your ability or experience, the parkrun community is incredibly welcoming to everyone. By working with the Welsh Government, our health boards and other partners, I am excited to see how we expand the reach of parkruns across Wales.”

Recognising the significance of this event being held on World Mental Health Day, Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services, Baroness Eluned Morgan, said “Holding a parkrun on World Mental Health day is a fantastic reminder of how being active is one of the best ways we can boost our physical and mental health. Whether you walk, run or volunteer, parkrun is a great way to do this and it’s already a regular feature of many people’s weekly calendars.”

The event reaffirmed parkrun’s support for the Welsh Government’s Social Prescribing Framework through the implementation of the hugely successful parkrun practice initiative. This social prescribing project sees GP practices linking with their local parkrun event to promote the health and wellbeing of staff and patients.

99 GP practices are now signed up to the parkrun practice initiative in Wales – which is approximately 25% of all practices across the country.

All participants spoke of the importance of being active and socially connected as a way of nurturing mental wellbeing, as well as improving physical health.

Particular emphasis was given to the importance of being active in childhood, and all attendees welcomed the announcement a week ago of the new development partnership between parkrun and the London Marathon Group. Under this exciting project, parkrun will work with a range of organisations to grow junior parkrun across Wales, especially in more deprived areas.

The event also highlighted the benefits of walking, with many of the participants choosing to walk the one mile route.

Karen Penny, who intends to walk the entirety of the Coast and County Boundaries of Britain and Ireland (including the perimeter of all seven health boards in Wales) to raise awareness of parkrun and fundraise for parkrun’s charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK, shared: “In 2021 I was affected by a long period of illness. During those hard times it was walking that significantly improved my recovery. That is why I am dedicating this fundraising walk to raising awareness about the importance of being physically and socially active and the impact this can have on our physical and mental health. You don’t need to walk thousands of miles but doing something as simple as going for a short walk each day can really make a difference.”

In summing up the morning event, parkrun UK’s Head of Health and Wellbeing Chrissie Wellington OBE commented: “It was wonderful to connect with so many people from a range of different organisations. There’s nothing better than starting the day with a walk or a run in the company of those who have a shared passion for promoting health and wellbeing, and have the opportunity to follow that up with conversations in the Senedd. Creating change requires commitment and close collaboration, and this event reaffirmed parkrun’s desire to work with others to achieve our ambitious objectives.”

Event details

• One mile run and/or walk from the Senedd on Tuesday 10 October.
• Informal meeting at the Senedd after the run/walk.