Melksham parkrun recently celebrated its seventh anniversary, with 115 runners, joggers and walkers taking part in the 270th event at King George V Park.
The milestone event was supported by 36 dedicated volunteers. “Without our volunteers, the event could not have taken place,” explained Ty, a member of the Melksham parkrun team.
Over the past seven years, Melksham parkrun has welcomed more than 6,660 participants and 770 volunteers, who have either supported the event on the day or worked behind the scenes to ensure its safe operation every week.
“One of these individuals is a stalwart of the Melksham community, Colin Goodhind, who, after seven years, has decided to step back from the core team,” said Ty. Colin played a key role in bringing parkrun to Melksham, inspired by similar events in the area. Ty added, “A big thank you to Colin.”
For those unfamiliar with parkrun, Ty explained, “parkrun began in 2004, when 13 runners and five volunteers gathered on a blustery day in Bushy Park, Teddington. For many years it remained a single event, the brainchild of founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt. It has since grown internationally, with over 9 million registered parkrunners (and counting). Best of all, it’s free!”
“We look forward to seeing you soon as we move into our eighth year!
“If you’re not a runner or walker but would like to volunteer, message us on our Facebook page or email us at melksham@parkrun.com. Volunteering is incredibly rewarding, and you’ll be warmly welcomed as part of the parkrun family,” Ty added.
