1 March 2019
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Walkers will be supported with a six-week walking challenge including video demonstrations, tips on heart health and opportunities for free CPR training
22nd February 2019. The Irish Heart Foundation has teamed up with parkrun in a six-week initiative to get the local communities in Cork moving. People interested in getting active are welcome to attend their free, local parkrun event each week, to walk at their own pace.
On Saturday March 2nd, the Irish Heart Foundation is encouraging everyone to join their nearby parkrun event and walk for both health and leisure. Register for parkrun at www.parkrun.ie/register, choose #IrishHearts as your club and print the barcode before turning up to walk with your local community. parkrun events take place in eight locations in Cork; Mallow, The Glen, Ballincollig, Macroom, Clonakilty, Castlehaven, Glengarriff and Beara and are free, safe and easy to take part in alongside your local community.
People looking to get active can take up the Irish Heart Foundation’s Move More Walking Challenge; a six-week challenge to allow people achieve physical activity guidelines and walk a 5km route at their own pace with the goal of completing a parkrun walk. Each week, participants will be encouraged to increase their step count, increase the distance they walk as well as introduce some mobility, stretching and strength exercises. Video demonstrations and heart health information will be shared in the weekly parkrun e-zine and parkrun volunteers will be provided with the opportunity for free CPR training.
Janis Morrissey, Head of Health Promotion, Information and Training at the Irish Heart Foundation said: “The Irish Heart Foundation has a long-standing commitment to promoting walking through the Slí na Sláinte programme, with mapped and measured walking routes throughout Ireland and Walking Leader Training for those wishing to lead a walking group in their community or workplace. We are delighted to team up with parkrun to encourage more people in Cork to walk at parkrun events and will assist people with information on healthy eating, physical activity and heart health.”
Matt Shields, Country Manager at parkrun Ireland said: “By teaming up with the Irish Heart Foundation, we are delighted to get more people walking and assist them with video demonstrations and heart health information along the way. Volunteers will have the opportunity to access free CPR training and help protect the lives of our members.”
Regular physical activity can improve your wellbeing as well as reducing your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Make walking part of your life with your local community.
About park run
parkrun events are free, weekly, timed events every Saturday at 9.30am in 85 various locations in Ireland. All participants are welcome. To register for your nearest parkrun, please visit: https://www.parkrun.ie/register/ and choose the #IrishHearts as your club.
About the Move More Walking Challenge
The Move More Walking Challenge provides people with a resource to increase their physical activity level over six weeks. By the end of the challenge you will be achieving the National Physical Activity Guidelines and will have embraced regular movement as a healthy lifestyle habit. For more information visit www.irishheart.ie/sli.
Cork parkrun – Saturday at 9.30am
Mallow Town parkrun
Mallow Town Park, Park Road, Mallow, Co. Cork
Glen River parkrun
Glen River Park, Glen Avenue, The Glen, Cork
Ballincollig parkrun
The Regional Park, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Castle Demense parkrun
The Castle Demense, Macroom, Co. Cork
Clonakilty parkrun
The Show Grounds, Park Road (N71), Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Castlehaven parkrun
Rineen Woods, Union Hall, Co. Cork
Glengarriff parkrun
Glengarriff Nature Reserve, Kenmare Road, Glengarriff, Co. Cork
Bere Island parkrun
GAA Club Rerrin village, Bere Island, Beara, Co. Cork
