Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun is off to a good start

The new Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun is a free, fun event for juniors, aged 4 to 14 years old, to walk, run or jog two kilometres at Omagh Leisure Complex every Sunday morning at 9.30am.

Now in its fifth week, having started on Sunday 14th January 2024, the community event encouraging children to be active, held at a Fermanagh and Omagh District Council leisure facility, has had over 100 children participate each week.

During a visit to the new event, Vice Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Ann-Marie Donnelly, commented,

“I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how successful Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun is. Not only has the event received a high volume of participants, but there was also so many happy children taking part and enjoying exercise and social interaction outdoors.

Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun is an excellent opportunity for children in our community to participate in physical activity and help improve their wellbeing.

I’m very pleased the Council helped support the development of this junior parkrun with the provision of financial support to help with essential items such as first aid kits, signage, a dedicated website and volunteer training and support.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge everyone who is volunteering to organise the event safely and efficiently each week.”

For parkrun to take place, volunteers are required to organise the event and take on roles such as marshalling, timing, result recording, etc. For more information on how to volunteer at Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun visit: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/omaghleisurecomplex-juniors/volunteer/

Commenting on the development of the new junior parkrun in Omagh, Matt Shields, Parkrun Ireland Co-ordinator, said,

“Our mission statement at parkrun is to help create a happier and healthier planet. With junior parkrun we seek to get children into fun activity at an early age with the objective that they stay active and healthy into adulthood. With over 200 children registered for the event in the first two weeks and an attendance of 100 plus per week, we feel positive that Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun will contribute to the health and wellbeing of children from the local community.

We extend our thanks and appreciation to the council for their support and the local community volunteers who are delivering the event for the benefit of the wider community.”

To find out how you can get your children involved in Omagh Leisure Complex junior parkrun visit: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/omaghleisurecomplex-juniors/.

The establishment of this junior parkrun in Omagh marks the second junior parkrun happening weekly in the Fermanagh and Omagh District. For more information on the junior parkrun happening at the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen, visit: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/broadmeadow-juniors/.