parkrun appoint Run Communications ahead of 20th anniversary
23 Oct 2023
parkrun, the UK-based global health and well-being charity which delivers over 2,200 weekly community events where people of all ages come together to walk, jog, run and volunteer, has appointed communications agency Run Communications as it aims to double the number of weekly participants over the next five years; with a specific focus on reaching those who are currently underrepresented in traditional physical activity spaces.
Run will deliver a strategic media relations campaign and thought leadership communications aimed at helping the charity meet its strategic objectives and deliver on its mission to ‘transform health and happiness by empowering people to come together to be active, social and outdoors’ ahead of its 20th anniversary next year.
Over the past 19 years parkrun has developed into a global community of eight million registered walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers, and is considered a valuable and essential public health initiative, recognised by the World Health Organisation.
The charity also has a strong focus on increasing the health and wellbing of children and young people through the delivery of the junior parkrun which sees children and young people, alongside their families, friends, parents and carers, take part in 2km events every Sunday in 409 different locations.
Run, the Brighton and Hove based agency set up by Steve Chisholm in 2012, will deliver a regular programme of media relations and thought leadership that highlights parkrun’s achievements and increasing social impact and will also run a media campaign around the charity’s 20th birthday in October 2024. The agency works for a range of clients including The National Lottery, MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and UK Coaching.
Russ Jeffreys, parkrun CEO, commented:
“We’ve been on an amazing journey and built an incredible community over the last 19 years but it’s clear that access to free, regular, outdoor, social, community-focussed physical activity has never been more important. Run Communications bring extensive knowledge and experience across the media landscape, and we believe that working with an agency of Run’s calibre will be crucial as we grow, become more sustainable and look to communicate our vision to both our existing community and a wide range of new important audiences.”
Chisholm, added:
“parkrun has been one of the biggest community, grassroots participation success stories of recent years. Its growth has been phenomenal as has its impact on the health and wellbeing of millions of people. As an agency, we are passionate about the transformative impact that physical activity can have on our communities and there are not many better examples of this than parkrun. We are both delighted and excited to be working with them.”
To find out more about parkrun, visit https://www.parkrun.org.uk/
