Carlisle parkrun will celebrate 75 years of the NHS with a 5k event on Saturday, July 8.

NHS England has teamed up with parkrun to mark its 75th anniversary, with the event providing an opportunity for local people to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of NHS staff from past and present. 

Carlisle's parkrun is a weekly event that takes place in Chances Park and runners, walkers, volunteers, and supporters are all encouraged to come along for the NHS celebration next weekend.

A junior parkrun will also take place on July 9, for any young competitors who are keen to take part.

Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England said: "I’m delighted that the NHS has teamed up with parkrun UK in a celebration of the NHS’s 75th anniversary in July.

"I know it will be popular and I encourage as many people as possible – from local communities to NHS staff and volunteers – to get involved, whether it’s by walking, jogging or running the course, or lending a hand as a volunteer.

"Or just coming along to watch and soak up the atmosphere.

"As well as being a great way to thank NHS staff and volunteers during the NHS’s 75th year, we hope ‘parkrun for the NHS’ will help encourage people to consider being more active. We know physical activity is great for your body and mind.

"Some is good – more is better still."

This is the second time that parkrun and the NHS have come together, after celebrating the 70th anniversary in 2018, which was attended by more than 146,000 people and spearheaded by former nursing assistant and Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes. 

Chrissie Wellington, Global Head of Health and Well-being at parkrun, said: "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."