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A support group with a difference
People living with and beyond cancer in the Bury St Edmunds area are being encouraged to get active as part of a new initiative called 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer starting on Saturday, 29 January 2022, meeting at Nowton Park Grounds Café at 8:45am.
The Bury St Edmunds 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group invites those living with and beyond cancer, their families, friends and those working in cancer services to walk, jog, run, cheer or volunteer at a local group linked to the parkrun event held at Nowton Park on the last Saturday of every month and then socialise after over drink and cake in the local café. In short, it's an active coffee morning combining fresh air, movement and socialising.
Physical activity has been shown to have a number of important benefits for people living with cancer. It reduces cancer related fatigue, helps to preserve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and improves psychological well-being. It may also reduce treatment side effects, reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and prolong survival. However, despite these benefits, an NHS report found that only 23% of people living with cancer achieve the recommended 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 times per week. The 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer initiative linked to parkrun, provides the opportunity to do this.
The Bury St Edmunds 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group is run by the ambassadors Liz O’Riordan, Sarah Gooderham and Ben Durham who have all had cancer themselves. They said: 'Parkrun has been a lifeline for most of us during our cancer treatment. Getting out in the fresh air and running, jogging and often walking with others is one of the few times we forget we’ve had cancer. We were thrilled to learn of 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer, a national initiative which combines a cancer support group with parkrun.'
5K Your Way was founded by oncology consultant and 12 times ironman champion Lucy Gossage, and Gemma Hillier-Moses, International Runner and Founder of MOVE charity, who was diagnosed with cancer herself at the age of 24 in 2012. 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer is an initiative provided by MOVE Charity, Registered Charity number 116567.
Those interested in joining the group are encouraged to register with 5k Your Way and parkrun before meeting at 8:45am on the last Saturday of every month. For further information visit and to find a location near you visit the 5k Your Way website.
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