# Parkrun partners with The Nation’s 5K Challenge to get one million people moving

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/06/23/parkrun-partners-with-the-nations-5k-challenge-to-get-one-million-people-moving/
- Published: 2026-06-23T17:34:35+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Parkrun has joined The Nation’s 5K Challenge, a nationwide initiative aiming to
inspire one million people to complete a 5k run across the UK and Ireland while 
raising funds for charity.**

Founded by endurance athlete and fitness coach **Esmée Gummer**, the challenge launches
on 27 June and runs until 3 October 2026. To drive participation, Esmée will run
5,000km through 77 cities across the UK and Ireland, visiting 13 local parkrun events
along the way to join their free weekly 5k events and “help bring communities together”.

Over 1,300 people registered for the challenge within the first 24 hours.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

## Partnerships supporting The Nation’s 5k

The initiative is managed by [realbuzz](https://realbuzz.com/thenations5k), which
is handling participant registrations and charity partnerships. Participants are
given the option to donate when signing up, with fundraising powered by [GoFundMe](https://gofundme.com).
Funds raised will be split between official charity partners **Wings for Life** (
25%) and **Sport in Mind** (25%), with a portion going to **parkrun** and the remainder
distributed to **charities selected through a public vote** during the challenge.

![Esmée Gummer running along London's South Bank. Photo: Matthew Bowen](https://
wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/06/esmee-gummer-running-photo-matthew-bowen-westminster-
202606.jpg)

Esmée Gummer runs along London’s South Bank. Photo: Matthew Bowen

## Esmée told she’d “never walk again” at 18

Esmée’s own connection to the cause adds personal significance to the campaign. 
After being paralysed at 18 and told she would never walk again, she made a full
recovery and is now passionate about making movement accessible to all.

**Ali McArthur**, Global Head of Event Delivery & Volunteering at parkrun, said:“
Helping one million people move is an ambitious goal, but it’s one that reflects
our shared belief that physical activity should be free, welcoming and accessible.”

**Nina Sethi**, Head of Brand and Marketing at realbuzz, added: “parkrun has built
one of the most inclusive and inspiring community participation movements in the
world, making them a natural partner for [The Nation’s 5K Challenge](https://www.thenations5k.com/).”

![Esmée Gummer runs past the London Eye.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/
06/esmee-gummer-running-past-london-eye-photo-matthew-bowen.jpg)

Esmée Gummer runs past the London Eye. Photo: Matthew Bowen

Parkrun events taking part in the tour run from Inverness on 27 June through to 
Hereford on 26 September, visiting cities including Edinburgh, Dublin, Wolverhampton,
Plymouth and Cardiff along the route.