Doctors should prescribe Parkrun on the NHS, the charity behind the scheme says. The free 5km run - which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year - takes place in thousands of locations around the world each weekend. Parkrun UK already works with almost 2,000 GP surgeries to help doctors "socially prescribe" the events for their patients.
But now it is calling for the initiative to be rolled out across the NHS. "Participating in Parkrun, whether that be walking, running, volunteering or even just coming down to your local park to be outdoors with others, is a great way for people to start to make improvements to their physical and mental health," said Parkrun chief executive Russ Jefferys.
He said Parkrun could play a "vital part" in helping reduce pressure on the NHS. A YouGov poll of 2,000 adults found that 65% believe GPs should prescribe Parkrun, with 51% agreeing it would reduce pressure on the NHS. Be the first to get Breaking News. Install the Sky News app for free.
Parkrun began as a group of just 13 runners but has now grown to involve millions. Founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt put on the first event on Saturday 2 October 2004 at Bushy Park in southwest London as he recovered from an injury. He was inspired by events in South Africa, where he grew up, and said Parkrun helped him with his mental health struggles.
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