Hello! The fabulous people of the MS Soc are taking over Gladstone parkrun on 19 October 2019 to help encourage more people with MS to get involved. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/gladstone/ For those that don't know, parkrun is a free, weekly 5km event which takes place at over 1,800 locations in more than 20 countries. There are over 600 events in the UK alone. Every Saturday morning friends come together to organise and participate in these events. Whilst the events are timed, they are not races and you can take part at your own pace. There is no winner and no-one comes last (as a volunteer "tail walker" acts as back marker to make sure everyone gets round the course safely). Each course is different, but there is normally a really inclusive mix of speedy club runners, mid pack joggers and slower walkers. There are lots of people using parkrun as part of C25K programmes. People from 4 to 94 (and older) participate and parents push younger babies in buggies. Dogs (on a short lead) are also welcome. The events are run by volunteers and that is another way to get involved. Parkrun also actively encourages people with disabilities and long term health condition to get involved (and received a grant from the government as few years ago for this purpose). There are nearly 900 parkrunners in the UK who have registered as having MS. I'm admin of a facebook group which has brought more that 140 of us from across the country together. We span a spectrum of running and MS experiences: really speedy marathon and ultra-marathon runners, more reluctant mid-pack joggers (like me), people with more advanced MS who walk the course, need FES devices or use wheelchairs to participate and newly diagnosed people - exploring new ways to get and stay as healthy as they can in the face of the disease. If you are interested in finding out more drop me a message - or visit us at the FB group - or even better still, head along to the Gladstone parkrun on 19 October https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkrun.for.people.with.multiple.sclerosis/ K xxx