Political opinion with Kieran Mullan MP: Let's bring Parkrun to Bexhill

I recently put a simple question to residents on social media: would you like to see a Parkrun in Bexhill?

I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response. Hundreds of people have shown interest in the idea, and it's clear there is a real appetite to make it happen.

For those unfamiliar with Parkrun, it is a free, weekly 5km event held every Saturday morning in communities across the country. Despite the name, you don't have to be a runner to take part. People of all ages and abilities are welcome to walk, jog, run or volunteer.

I recently had the opportunity to meet Olympian gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes in Parliament at an event celebrating Parkrun and the difference it has made to communities across the UK. Dame Kelly is a supporter because, like me, she thinks getting moving and keeping active is something we can all benefit from. Dame Kelly asked me if we had a Parkrun and of course it got me thinking about why we didn't.

Though I understand a fantastic team of volunteers helps run a junior Parkrun in Battle I think a full Parkrun in Bexhill has great potential with our fantastic seafront. It seems to me that Bexhill would be an ideal place for an event like this.

The benefits go well beyond physical fitness. Getting outdoors, meeting new people and being part of something regular can make a real difference to people's mental wellbeing. For someone who might be feeling isolated or looking to become more active, parkrun can be a great way to get started.

There could also be benefits for our local economy. We know that people already travel from Bexhill to take part in the parkrun in Hastings. Having an event here could encourage people to visit our local cafés afterwards instead of travelling out of the town to spend their money.

But while the enthusiasm has been fantastic, turning the idea into reality will take some work.

One of the biggest challenges is finding enough volunteers. Every Parkrun relies on a dedicated team of people who take turns giving up some of their Saturday mornings to help organise the event, marshal the route, record times and make sure everything runs smoothly.

You don't need any special experience, and you certainly don't need to be a runner. In fact, volunteering can be just as rewarding as taking part. We've launched a short survey to find out how many people would be interested in taking part and, importantly, who might be willing to volunteer.

If you'd like to see parkrun come to Bexhill, visit my website to register your interest.

There's still work to do, and I don't want to promise something before we know it is achievable. But the response so far has been hugely encouraging.

With enough local support, I hope we can make Bexhill Parkrun a reality.