We are a volunteer group in Millom that support a weekly parkrun. Millom parkrun currently has the reputation (courtesy of BBC radio 4) as being the hardest parkrun in the country despite it being a relatively flat course. The reason for this is it is very, very muddy. It is not unusual for even the fastest of runners to run up to 10 mins slower than their PB’s. Although the attention has been great we are not getting many locals from the community using the course due to the conditions. Often people start but give up due to the excess challenge each week.

When we started with the idea of parkrun, its purpose was to make the community healthier and fitter and in particular to improve the health and fitness of children in the area. Millom has a high level of deprivation and also contributes towards the high number of obese children in Copeland, which is one of the highest in the country.

Parkrun has permission from Cumbria County Council to use Millom Comprehensive school field for the course. The school is a Community School and the field is open to the public to use freely outside of school hours.

It soon came to light how much better it would be to have a track around the perimeter of the school. This would allow more local people to take part all year round at any grade and level of fitness from walkers, joggers and runners. It could be used by the pupils at Millom School and also other surrounding schools and would serve as a smooth multi purpose track including cycling. The track would be 2.5m wide and built to Sport England specification with a professional track finish. This track would also meet the needs of any disabled people or parents with children in pushchairs to take part as well. Unfortunately due to the conditions all year these groups of people are not able to participate.

As a community we need to raise £250,000 to make this idea come to reality and any donations large or small would be greatly appreciated. We are arranging to publicise all the sponsors that help this idea become a reality.

We are currently in the process of obtaining charitable status, the community track requires no feasibility studies, planning permission is in process and once the funds are raised the track will be built. Once built, the track will be completely free to use and accessible to anyone in the community, outside of school hours. If in the event of the track not being built the money raised will be subject to a special resolution of trustees, representatives from Cumbria & Copeland councils, Millom School and NHS from which a decision will be made on where the funds will be distributed.