Free funding for Kerry y parkrun groups
KERRY groups that would like to start a parkrun event in their community can now avail of funding from social entrepreneur website ChangeX.
ChangeX is a site that allows users to seek out and support social programmes and community events and then provides the events’ organisers with the funding to get their event off the ground.
One ChangeX investor has decided to help fund parkruns in Kerry and now any group who would like to set up a parkrun in the county can avail of funding through the site.
First commenced in Kerry in 2015 parkruns are free timed 5k runs or walks held every Saturday morning at 9.30am.
There are parkrun events held every week in Tralee, Killarney and Listowel as well as a 2k junior parkrun for children aged four to 14 in Tralee at 9.30 on Sundays.
The Tralee junior parkrun is the only such event in Munster.
The weekly events always draws a large crowd with participants, including many families, ranging from four to their 80s.
The organisers of the existing Kerry events are encouraging other communities to avail of the ChangeX funding and set up an event in their area.
“There is funding available to set up 5k parkruns or 2k junior parkruns and it is being only offered to the Kerry and no where else in Ireland,” said Tralee junior parkrun Event Director Caroline Lynch.
“So far we have four parkruns in Kerry. This is a great opportunity for lots of communities in Kerry to set up a parkrun of their own,” said Caroline.
Any group interested in starting a parkrun in their locality need only contact parkrun Ireland by emailing matt@ parkrun.com.
Funding will be arranged by parkrun Ireland who will also help with other matters such as organising insurance.
All the group needs do is identify a safe, traffic free five kilometre course and find volunteers to run the event.