Welton Baptist Church is currently working hard to bring Midsomer Norton its very own Parkrun. Parkrun, one of the UK’s largest providers of free, organised physical activity, aims to get the UK moving, through weekly timed 5km events – to be completed at any pace. It has taken the country by storm, and when launched, it will become the first of its kind in the area.

This week, to celebrate this initiative, the church launched its very own running group. Twenty-five members of the congregation took part in the group’s first run and walk through Midsomer Norton’s developing Town Park, which is ideally located to form the main Parkrun route.

Midsomer Norton Mayor, Paul Myers, was ready and waiting to welcome the group home to Somervale School for breakfast, including fruit smoothies created solely through the pedal power of a ‘smoothie bike’. Welton Baptist Church and Midsomer Norton Town Council are teaming up together to establish the parkrun.

The project is being spearheaded by sports enthusiasts, Sally and Eugene Kertzman, who have been involved with running and triathlons in the town for many years.

Eugene said: “The parkrun is a free, 5km walk and run for the whole family and provides great opportunities for volunteering. It will bring families and the community together doing outdoor activities every Saturday morning of the year, making great use of the new town park!”

Matt Hebditch, team leader at Welton Baptist Church, commented: “I’m in! I need to get fit, and this is the nudge I need. It’s also a great chance to meet up with mates and new people. Look out for me – I’ll be the slowest bloke at the back!”

Work on the link between the new Town Park and the Greenway is due to be completed in the next few months to allow a safe and traffic-free 5km safe route for the parkrun.

The Welton Baptist Church initiative has been financially supported by Bath and North East Somerset Council and St John’s Community Trust.

The Church meets every Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. at Somervale School and their next exciting event will be the ‘Big Quiz’. This is a Nationwide event with over one thousand churches taking part to raise money for Tearfund, a Christian charity helping those in poverty. If you are interested in attending, please visit the Welton Church website: www.weltonchurch.org.uk