You probably all know that I love running, and I love doing my 5k parkrun on a Saturday! I did my first parkrun on 21 January 2012, although parkrun actually started on 02 October 2004 with just 13 runners in Bushy Park, London, so I was a bit late to the party! Thanks to Paul Sinton-Hewitt, its founder, it is now a global event, with over 10 million people registered. It is a FREE event - just register and turn up, and there is also parkwalk if you can't run. Or even volunteering. What other events allow you to improve your health, make friends, and travel to numerous different events at home and abroad to take part - for free?! Over the years I've run dressed up as a parrot, a cop, Princess Leia, Batman, an Angel, a King, and I've even sung Christmas carols whilst running (no mean feat, I can tell you!).

I know so many people through the family that is parkrun whose health has improved dramatically by doing parkrun - even some GP's are 'prescribing' parkrun to their patients to help improve their mental health. There are parkruns in prisons, and also Junior parkruns on Sundays for 4-14 year olds. All great athletes have to start somewhere!

On 05 October 2024, parkrun celebrated its 20th anniversary, and Bushy Park had 6,204 runners that day - I was one of them! But in order to keep these events free for ever, parkrun Global is the registered charity behind it all, and like any charity, it relies on donations from wonderful people like you to keep it going.

I have been extremely fortunate to secure a charity place in the Great South Run 2025 on 19 October in Portsmouth, to raise funds for parkrun Global. It's a big ask to get from 5k (3.1 miles) to 10 miles in a little over 4 weeks, but I am determined to do it! I would therefore be very, very grateful if you were able to sponsor me for this event, even if it's only a pound or two, as by doing so, you are keeping parkrun free for everyone - you might even want to try it one Saturday if you don't already do so!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you in advance from me - and parkrun Global!