CHILDREN braved the cold as they took part in a fun run on Sunday launching a new junior running group.

Whitelands Farm Junior Parkrun in Bicester has been set up for children aged between four and 14 to run, jog or walk a 2km route.

The event, which was held at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground, is part of the Parkrun network which holds free running events in communities across the UK.

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Now, a Parkrun group has been set up for children in Bicester to get active and its first event on Sunday saw 128 children brave the frosty morning.

Bicester Advertiser:

Junior Parkrun is run entirely by volunteers with 29 helping out at Sunday’s event.

Its aim is for youngsters to have fun, but they can also be competitive as they will receive their running time whenever they participate.

Runners can also earn wristbands for completing a certain amount of Parkruns and do not have to run on their own as parents are welcome to run with them.

Whitelands Farm is the third Junior Parkrun to be set up in Oxfordshire and organisers predict that it will go ‘from strength to strength’ in Bicester due to its healthy town commitments.

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Event director, Chirsteen Carey, said: “We hope to make contact with schools in Bicester in the coming months to raise awareness of Junior Parkrun in the school community and encourage local children to get active and develop healthy habits for life.”

Bicester Advertiser:

Organisers say that now that it is up and running, the event should be self-sufficient and not need further funding, but they would like to thank organisations such as Bicester Round Table and Legacy Leisure for donations.

You can participate every Sunday at 9am at Whitelands Farm.

If you would like to sign up as a volunteer, go to parkrun.org.uk.