East Grinstead runner set to run London Marathon for parkrun

Lucy Wilkes, from East Grinstead, is one of just 12 people nationwide selected to run for parkrun at what is widely considered the world’s greatest marathon on Sunday, April 26th. She is fundraising to help ensure parkrun remains free for participants worldwide forever. 

parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5k event held every Saturday morning in parks and open spaces, run by volunteers and open to people of all abilities. There are currently over 2,200 weekly parkrun events across the globe.  

She said: "parkrun has welcomed me into an inclusive and encouraging community of runners, walkers and volunteers that I never knew I was missing until I found it.  

“I am honoured to run and to raise money for something that has made such a positive difference to my life, and to so many others around the world.” 

Lucy first went to parkrun in December 2021. She turned up at Malling, now Leybourne Lakes, parkrun one Saturday morning and was immediately converted, now participating most weeks. 

She has since completed more than 160 parkruns across 16 locations, some as far afield as Copenhagen and Seattle. Lucy’s home event is East Grinstead parkrun, where the sense of belonging at parkrun has been felt the most thanks to the community of runners and volunteers. 

She added: “On cold, dark mornings, what gets me out of bed is thinking of the volunteers who are there whatever the weather, setting up for the people who would be disappointed if there was no parkrun. Many of those volunteers are familiar faces now. 

“I’m proud now to call myself a parkrunner, and my Saturday mornings wouldn’t be the same without it.” 

To find out more about parkrun and where your nearest event to run, walk or volunteer is, visit parkrun.org.uk. To support Lucy's London Marathon journey and help keep parkrun free forever, donate at https://www.justgiving.com/page/lucy-wilkes-london-2026.