On Saturday 8 October 2016, Bridget Phillipson, Member of Parliament for Houghton and Sunderland South, will join enthusiastic runners to celebrate the 7th anniversary of Sunderland parkrun.

Parkrun organises free weekly 5km timed runs all over the world. People of all physical abilities are encouraged to take part, from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians. There are now 71,093 parkrun events taking place in the UK at 418 locations, including nineteen in the north east.[1]

Since the first Sunderland parkrun in 2009, a small group of dedicated volunteers have organised hundreds of events, with thousands taking part. This Saturday’s event will take place, as usual, at Silksworth Sports Complex in Sunderland and get underway at 9am.[2]

Those who would like to take part are asked to register before their first run by going to the parkrun website and bringing along a printed copy of their registration barcode on the day. All runners are also welcome to grab a post parkrun coffee in the caf in the Silksworth Tennis and Wellness Centre.

Parkrun is entirely organised by volunteers. Anyone who would like to help can email: sunderlandhelpers@parkrun.com.

Commenting before the event, Bridget Phillipson said:

“I am delighted to be taking part in Sunderland parkrun this weekend. It’s a fantastic way for people of all ages and physical ability to get into running and get active.

I want to pay tribute to all of the volunteers who have helped to make Sunderland parkrun such a great success over the last seven years, especially Event Director Jane Niven. As parkrun is entirely dependent upon volunteers, it is their hard work that makes this wonderful event possible.

Although the weather in Sunderland is not easy to predict, come rain or shine I am looking forward to my run on Saturday morning.”

Jane Niven, Event Director at Sunderland parkrun, said:

“Sunderland parkrun volunteers have held 355 events over the past seven years, enabling 4331 different people to take part.

“Over this time the team have seen many personal achievements by our runners and the community spirit that has grown and developed at Sunderland parkrun brings us together each week.

“In the future we will to continue to enable anyone and everyone to get together to run, jog, walk 5k for free on a Saturday morning.”

NOTES:

1. For more information on parkrun, see http://www.parkrun.org.uk/.
2. http://www.parkrun.org.uk/sunderland/.
3. Sunderland Echo: Wearside MP praises organisers to mark parkrun anniversary, Monday 10 October 2016.