There were smiling faces as people descended on War Memorial Park last weekend for Basingstoke’s first 5k Your Way event.


The event aims to encourage people who are recovering from cancer or who are undergoing treatment to stay active.


Organiser Alex Conboy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, decided to set up the Basingstoke event of the national campaign after she found that running through her treatment made it easier to recover.


She told the Gazette: “It was excellent, it was a really great event.”


Forming part of Basingstoke’s parkrun event, 12 people turned up especially for the 5k Your Way event.


“It was slighly more than I was expecting, it was a really positive start,” Alex continued.


The 12 attendees consisted of five people who are living beyond cancer, six friends and family members of those affected by the disease and Sue, one of the organisers who is the local GP.


According to Alex, exercising during treatment can help you recover quicker.


“It helps manage fatigue. There is some evidence that says it can reduce recurrence rates too.”


Alex stressed the fact that most people at the event walked rather than run, and that people can choose to do whichever feels best for them.


“It’s not all about running, we are for anyone that needs some exercise.


“The real aim is to get people moving and have some fun in the outdoors.


“There is so much evidence that taking part in more physical activity or exercise before, during and after treatment is beneficial in so many different ways.”


5k Your Way continues monthly, on the last Saturday of every month, as part of the parkrun event.


The next event is on October 26, meeting outside the Totally Tennis Pavillion between 8.30 and 8.45am.


Alex said that she’d like to thank parkrun Basingstoke for their support.

For more info, go to: https://5kyourway.org/.

To view the research Alex refers to, you can download it here: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/documents/aboutus/commissioners/movemorereport.pdf.