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11
Mar 2022
Last Updated: 11/03/2022
Harrogate hospital staff to join Parkrun to commemorate national lockdown anniversary
Staff from Harrogate hospital will join volunteers at Harrogate Parkrun to commemorate the anniversary of the first national lockdown.
Harrogate Park Run.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust staff are set to join runners on the Harrogate Parkrun to commemorate the anniversary of the first national lockdown.
Staff will join volunteers on the Stray on Saturday, March 19, to help set up the course and help participants achieve their personal best.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented the national lockdown on March 23, 2020, in an effort to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed by covid.
William Greenwood, HDFT adult community service manager and volunteer at Parkrun, said:
“Parkrun was founded on a principle of improving mental wellbeing, the physical side of it was almost secondary.
“It is all about starting the weekend on a positive note, meeting new people, taking part in a walk or run and finishing with a slice of cake and a coffee.
“Within the event itself there are lots of micro communities who all support each other.
“It is an event that is open to absolutely everyone. Every week you will likely see people walking or running with their dogs, pushing prams, supporting visually impaired people.
“Some will complete in the run in under 20 mins and others will finish in over an hour, but thanks to the tail walker no one ever finishes last and the volunteers stay to cheer everyone to the end.”
Read More:
- Harrogate covid vaccination centre set to close in March
- Visiting restrictions to be eased at Harrogate and Ripon hospitals
The NHS and Parkrun already have close ties, many members of staff taking part weekly as volunteers or runners and some GP practices prescribing attendance to Parkrun events for its health and social benefits.
Next Saturday, the first 300 runners through the finish line will be gifted a sustainable Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity tote bag full of healthy goodies.
For more information on the Harrogate Parkrun, visit the event website.
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