Join NHS staff for health service anniversary parkrun on Saturday, July 8th (9am start) at the Torbay Velopark, Torbay Leisure Centre, Paignton

Posted on July 3rd, 2023

Torbay residents and NHS staff are being encouraged to lace up their running shoes to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the health service.

Torbay General Practice – an alliance of ten GP practices – is supporting ‘Parkrun for the NHS’ by taking part in the local event at Torbay Velopark on Saturday, July 8 (9am start).

And they want members of the community to join them to mark the milestone.

It’s free to take part in the 5km event, although runners are asked to register, which they can do here (https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/).

In previous years, many runners have worn fancy dress or NHS-themed dress – for example, nurse or doctor’s outfits.

Dr Leanne Bullock, TGP Chair and GP Partner at Chilcote Surgery, said: “Parkrun for the NHS is a wonderful opportunity to support and celebrate the NHS and promote opportunities to improve health and wellbeing of the Torbay community.

“We’d love to see as many people at the Torbay event as possible – whether you run, walk, lend a hand as a volunteer or just watch and soak up the atmosphere.

“As well as helping people in Torbay get to know practice staff better, it will hopefully encourage more people to get involved with their local parkrun and make steps towards a more healthy, active lifestyle.”

‘Parkrun for the NHS is also being supported by Britain’s former Wimbledon champions, Sir Andy Murray.

“The NHS is one of our nation’s greatest institutions and I am honoured to support its 75th birthday,” he said.

“’Parkrun for the NHS’ is a great initiative and it’ll be amazing to see thousands of people from across the UK walking, running and volunteering at their local parkrun and junior parkrun events to mark this major milestone in the NHS’s history.”

* Torbay’s ‘Parkrun for the NHS’ takes place on Saturday, July 8 (9am) at the Torbay Velopark, Torbay Leisure Centre, Paignton, TQ4 5JR. There is also a junior event the following day.