Mental health campaigners visit Warrington to lead ‘Thank You Day’ Parkrun Jubilee plans

VIDEO: LEADING mental health campaigners journalist and broadcaster Alastair Campbell and former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle visited Warrington Parkrun today, Saturday to help launch special ‘Thank You day’ events as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.

With former Burnley FC Footballer Clarke now living in Newcastle and Alastair, a passionate Burnley FC supporter, living in London – Warrington was the perfect location to launch the campaign to help raise mental health awareness.

Both men have suffered with mental health issues and are keen to help remove the stigma about talking about it.

Organisers are calling on everyone, young and old, runners, walkers, spectators and their friends and family to get involved and join their local parkrun or junior parkrun on the weekend of 4th and 5th June.

Up to 1,000 parkruns and junior parkruns take place across the country every weekend. They are an opportunity for communities to come together in the great outdoors, enjoy one another’s company, see old friends and make new ones, and take part in the wider Thank You Day celebrations.

The campaign behind ‘Thank You Day’ is also suggesting that people bring along a picnic as a way of coming together with up to ten million people across the country and getting behind Britain’s biggest ever street party.

Launching the plans Alastair, probably best known for his days as an adviser to Tony Blair’s Government, said: “Thank You Day is all about bringing us together and recognising what’s important. That means thanking the people who make the difference in our lives, coming together as a community, and making sure we tackle the feelings of isolation and loneliness that have been all too apparent in recent years.

“We all know that coming together and being outside with our friends and neighbours is good for our mental health – but it’s all too easy to let life get in the way. That’s why the Thank You Day parkruns are so important.

“On the Saturday and Sunday of the Queen’s Jubilee Weekend, there will be hundreds of parkrun events taking place up and down the country. Every single one is free, and everyone is welcome.

“So whether you’re a walker or a runner, a volunteer or spectator, it’s time to get involved. Invite the neighbours, rope in your family and bring your friends. And if you’d like to join the biggest street party ever, pack your picnic and let’s all get together to celebrate Thank You Day.”

Clarke added: “Thank You Day is a brilliant initiative, and it’s fantastic that Parkrun is getting involved. This is a day for us all to come together and take stock of what’s important – and I can’t think of any better way of doing that the joining your friends, families and neighbours at a parkrun.”

Thank You Day will take place this year on Sunday, June 5. Organisers hope 10 million people will take part in events across the country.
https://thankyouday.org.uk/

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