Parkrun for the NHS Manchester: how to take part in Heaton Park event and where to sign up

The NHS in England has teamed up with parkrun UK and the NHS in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to mark the NHS’s 75th anniversary this July. Staff, volunteers and the community have been invited to take part in the ‘parkrun for the NHS’ this weekend. 

The main event takes place on Saturday July 8, with a junior event taking place on Sunday July 9. Manchester’s Heaton Park is set to host events on both days. 

Connect Health, which runs community musculoskeletal and pain management services in North Manchester and beyond, will be getting involved in the event- with employees volunteering, cheering on the participants and taking part in the event themselves.

 Mike Carpenter, consultant MSK (musculoskeletal) clinician, head of clinical delivery (South) and MSK national lead for Connect Health, said: “Everyone at Connect Health is hugely excited to be joining the event. parkrun is all about participation and getting moving - whatever your level of fitness. Many people will be walking the course, so you definitely don’t need to be able to run. It’s all about togetherness, being more active and celebrating 75 years of our NHS.

 “From countless studies and our own work in the local community, we know the positive impact that even very gentle movement can have on physical and mental health. People of all ages can join in the fun, so why not bring your friends, your family members, your colleagues or just head down on your own and be part of something very special.”

Parkrun’s Chrissie Wellington said: “We are thrilled to be joining forces with the NHS across the UK to celebrate its 75th anniversary. We know that participating in parkrun is incredibly beneficial to people’s mental and physical health, and best of all the events are local, they are accessible, they are free, and they are fun! They’re also there every week, and we’d love to see those taking part continue to join us in the future.

 “‘parkrun for the NHS’ is the perfect way for us to increase awareness of parkrun across the health sector while at the same time paying tribute to the enormous and incredibly valuable contribution of NHS staff and volunteers to the health of our nation.”

How to get signed up for ‘Parkrun for the NHS’

New runners can get signed up for a run by visiting the official Parkrun website. You can create an account through this channel.