Words: Jean Hollings
Photos: Simon Cullingworth
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning. junior parkrun is 2k, dedicated to 4-14 year olds and their families, every Sunday morning.
parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive, there is no time limit and no one finishes last (we have a volunteer role to finish last). Everyone is welcome to come along.
parkrun is free and you only need to register once whether walking, jogging, running, volunteering or a combination.
People can register here. All parkrun events are organised by a dedicated team of volunteers.
You are welcome to volunteer at the event as an event day volunteer which may include setting up and checking the course, recording the participants’ times or scanning their barcodes using the volunteer app. You can hand out finish tokens in the finish funnel or write down finishers details if their barcode is unscannable.
Bramley parkrun is renowned for its hill. The course consists of path and trail three-and-a-half times around the park now taking views from the top of the park over Leeds.
Over the years it has been given an affectionate name ‘Bramley is family’ due to the friendliness of the volunteers and participants.
The team regularly receive positive feedback about the volunteers and the course.
Bramley has a regular core base of volunteers e.g. Reg – Guardian of the gate; Satty – Satty steps; Jamie (and Rosie) at Jamie’s junction; Ian in the naughty corner and Carol at Carols corner.
Jill regularly makes an appearance in fancy dress at the turn around, while Elizabeth and Graham show their moves on disco corner.
Simon is our resident photographer and has recently won an award (NHS Shared Business Services, Community Impact Award 2023) for his volunteering.
His photographs are printed and commonly used as profile pictures by parkrunners.
Volunteers are always welcome and are made to feel part of the team. Drop Bramley parkrun an e-mail if you can help out: bramley@parkrun.com.
Meet the volunteers
Reg – guardian of the gates
I volunteer because I enjoy motivating and encouraging people on their run or walk – and also without us volunteers parkrun wouldn’t be possible.
The most memorable moment for me was seeing a chap called Arthur coming back to parkrun after a long period of being really unwell after he suffered a heart attack at a parkrun which resulted in a triple bypass.
We were fortunate as at that time not all parkruns had a defibrillator and we had one donated by Pure Gym. Along with support from off-duty medical professionals that saved his life that day.
Satty – runs Satty’s steps
I used to run Bramley Parkrun on a Saturday until I realised I never have a rest day I then started volunteering thinking it would be once in a while.
I enjoyed it so much that I started volunteering every week and soon became part of the Parkrun volunteering family and the breakfast club!
I am often stood at the steps half way up the hill. The lovely comments I receive from runners thanking me because I’m cheering them on is so rewarding… I’m on name terms with the dog walkers! I have met some lovely people who have soon because friends and every week whether it’s rain or sunshine is fun.
Elizabeth and Graham – disco corner
I volunteer because it’s a great way of participating in parkrun without running/walking as I can’t run but lovely to applaud those who do and encourage them on the way.
We meet some wonderfully inspiring people at parkrun – both participants and volunteers – and are in awe of the volunteers who come every week in all weathers to encourage others to do the best they can.
Graham and I love being at Disco Corner when we volunteer. We just love being part of the parkrun family and enjoy encouraging others, especially the younger children who go like the wind!
Parkrun is for everyone no matter their age and ability, it’s a fun event for everyone.
Carol on Carol’s Corner
I volunteer because it makes me feel great.
It is fun. Everyone is so friendly and love to join in any celebration, be it personal parkrun milestones, birthdays, Halloween, Christmas.
It is like being part of a great big family.
A memorable moment that springs to mind is Angela and Malcom celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
So many people shared their special day, cheering them round in their ‘wedding attire’, by wearing carnation button holes, veils, or enjoying a piece of their golden wedding cake.
It was such a wonderful atmosphere.
Jamie and Rosie – usually found at the top of the hill
I started volunteering after a knee injury stopped me running.
That was over five years ago now and it’s still my favourite place to be on a Saturday morning.
Being there feels like you’re a part of something special and it never fails to put a smile on my face.
My nine-year-old daughter has also volunteered at over 50 parkruns and really enjoys it. There have been many memorable moments as a parkrun volunteer.
A highlight was when we had several parkrunners dressed up in inflatable dinosaur costumes.
It was a bizarre sight and definitely made for an entertaining parkrun that day!
The Bramley parkrun team is like a big family and it’s great to be part of such a special event at the heart of the community.
Jill on the turnaround point
Why do I volunteer at Bramley parkrun? Cake, yes it’s the cake! Ha ha. On a more serious note; I volunteer at Bramley parkrun to support an event that has made me feel like part of a community and helped me make some great friends. I love seeing how people turn up week in week out giving it their best that morning and I feel joy in celebrating people’s amazing milestones.
It’s hard to choose a favourite moment when there is something unique each week, like people attending their first parkrun, to celebrating personal milestones (birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries etc) and their running milestones, to Halloween fancy dress.
But one of the best was volunteering the day we had a herd of fancy dress inflatable dinosaurs roaming the park – definitely a sight to behold and interesting getting high fives from a T-Rex!
Ian, in the naughty corner
I get a buzz from helping people who are trying to get fitter and healthier, or even just enjoying the exercise.
My favourite volunteer moment was seeing the chap in front of the other runners after he’d just run up a steep hill pushing a buggy with an infant on board.
I also shout at the runners with jokes for enthusiasm!
Get involved
Bramley parkrun has had several Duke of Edinburgh students over the years completing their bronze and silver awards. If you know of a young person who would like to volunteer, get in touch with the team. Contact the team bramley@parkrun.com or face to face on a Saturday morning.
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