People living with or beyond cancer, their friends and family, as well as NHS staff, are invited to take part in 5K Your Way sessions across the UK, to get them moving on a Saturday morning.
Kent 5K Your Way events are now running alongside parkruns at Leybourne Lakes, Malling; Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham and Deal & Walmer seafront in East Kent; as well as Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells (the next one is this Saturday, 27 September).
They were originally started by Lucy Gossage, consultant oncologist and champion triathlete and Gemma Hillier-Moses, in Nottingham and are organised and led by patient ambassadors.
“A group of ambassadors and volunteers will be available to meet and support patients on the last Saturday of each month at 8.45am near the parkrun start line in these Kent locations,” says Dr Rema Jyothirmayi, one of our Trustees. “People can walk for a small part of the course if they do not wish to complete the full 5km and ambassadors will be there to support them. They operate alongside existing parkruns and you can run, jog, walk, cheer or volunteer.”
She continues: “The aim is to empower people with a cancer diagnosis to start or resume exercise in a supportive and safe outdoor environment and also encourage NHS staff to increase their exercise levels by participating. Being part of the parkrun creates a great atmosphere and the presence of patient ambassadors and staff encourages people to come out and start exercising rather than doing it on their own.”
There’s more information on the posters.
