Research: From Participation to Prevention: Embedding Community Parkrun in Exercise Medicine Pathways and Research

Bio: Dr Tom Leggett is a GP with extended roles in sport and exercise medicine, working across a range of clinical, community, and leadership positions. He has worked with a current League One football club for seven seasons, and for the past three years has been exploring the wider, positive impact a club can have on its community—building on his previous experience as a local GP in the area. This collaboration has led to their first major research project, supported by the Malcolm Reed Research Prize, where they aim to measure the impact of bringing a parkrun to the football club as a vessel for regular physical activity and community health/social benefit. This project represents the beginning of a larger vision shaped over several years alongside the club’s foundation team and senior leadership group, seeking to embed physical activity as a driver of lasting health change.