Volunteers' Week 2025: Meet some of the volunteers behind Valentines parkrun

For more than ten years Valentines parkrun has been helping local people stay active, strengthen community bonds and forge new friendships.

Every Saturday the free event sees hundreds of local people come together in Valentines Park, in Ilford, to complete a 5K course around the park, either by running or walking.

The whole event is entirely reliant on volunteers from within the community helping out to ensure the run goes smoothly for participants on the day.

Timi Veerasamy and Andrew Gwilliam are two locals who've been volunteering at Valentines parkrun since the early days, helping to develop it into thriving community event it is today.

Andrew, 51, from Ilford, is an Event Director for Valentines parkrun, which sees him volunteer his time to play a strategic role in shaping the event.

Over the years he has helped develop parkrun from a small-scale event beginning with just 25 runners in 2011, to a community spirited success story which now boasts hundreds of participants.

Around 300 people turn up weekly to take part, and it attracts local people of all abilities, and backgrounds – including families and children.

Andrew also manages the Run Directors, who are also volunteers and have responsibility for overseeing the run on the day.

 “I’m really proud of how Valentines parkrun has grown and become such a big part of the local community. We have young children taking part to people in their 80s and beyond”, said Andrew. “There is such a brilliant positive atmosphere around the event when participants turn up to the park.”

Heaping praise on all the volunteers involved, Andrew said: “The event completely relies on volunteers and the runs could not happen without them. They are the backbone of the event from the volunteer marshals on the course directing the runners, to those recording participants’ running and walking times. There are many volunteers in a variety of roles - all helping to ensure Valentines parkrun is an enjoyable experience for all. They all deserve recognition for the fantastic job they do.”

Timi Veerasamy, 73, from Chadwell Heath is one of several volunteer Run Directors for Valentines parkrun and helps ensure the large scale event is managed well on the day.

Timi’s passion for running and helping grow Valentines parkrun, has inspired her own family to get involved. Her children also participate in runs, as well as manage their own parkrun and similar events in neighbouring boroughs.

Timi said: “Over the years we have been able to get local people active and participating regardless of running experience. The course is designed to be run or walked – and is for everyone. We’ve had people take part to meet new people, spend time with family, improve their mental health and well-being, as well as to stay active and fit. The wonderful thing is many lasting friendships have been formed both through participating as a runner, and by giving your time as a volunteer at the event.”

For more information on Valentines parkrun go to https://www.parkrun.org.uk/valentines/

In Redbridge, in addition to Valentines parkrun there is also Wanstead Flats parkrun: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/wansteadflats/

For more information about parkrun, including setting one up in your community, visit: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/