One of our Year 7 students has received recognition for her regular volunteering efforts at the Market Harborough Park Run.
Libby Wilson-Benn is a regular Park Run member at the 5k run at Welland Park and was nominated by the run's core team to be named as Junior Park Runner of The Year.
Libby, her mum and the rest of her family attend the Park Run in Harborough every Saturday morning to volunteer or run.
She said: “We are known as the Park Run family. I run with my lovely running buddy, Beverley. We both didn’t want to run at the beginning but it was our new year’s resolution to run and we now run one week and volunteer the next. We both help one another along, especially when we both need a walking break.”
At the start Libby said she had no desire to run but now she has taken 20 minutes off her 5k time over the weeks. Her personal best time is currently 34 minutes and 24 seconds.
She is also now only one volunteering week away from being presented with a 25 Park Run volunteering t-shirt.
Libby was nominated for her award for her regular volunteering role and for being instrumental in the organisation of the kids’ take-over weeks, when the junior Park Runners take on every volunteering role including that of run director.
Parkrun Event Director for Market Harborough, Mr Brian Corcoran said: “She was happy to get stuck in with whatever we threw at her including some of the more crucial, technical roles. I had an idea of a special themed week where kids did all of the volunteer roles. Loads of kids had started running at the Parkrun and it seemed like a great idea to celebrate it. I asked Libby if she would be Run Director for the day and she jumped at the opportunity. The takeover was a complete success. Libby did all the tasks wonderfully including standing up in front of nearly 200 adults to do the safety briefing. We repeated the kids’ takeover on another occasion and Libby is now our official kids’ takeover Run Director.
Mr Corcoran added: "She is a credit to her family and her school. That's why she won Junior Park Runner of the year.”

Park Runs are held at various parks throughout the UK every Saturday at 9am. Participants can join for free by signing up via the website. Visit  www.parkrun.org.uk for more information.