80-year-old Lowvelder conquers 250th parkrun

Desmond Francis (80) marked a significant milestone by completing his 250th parkrun at Anew Resort (formerly Ingwenyama Lodge) on February 3.

Francis started his parkrun journey in 2017 at the age of 73 at the Halls parkrun on weekends, and he consistently covered a daily distance of 10km. Upon relocating to a retirement home in White River, Francis persisted in participating in the weekly parkruns in this town.

Despite a diagnosis of prostate and bladder cancer in 2022, he remained undeterred, maintaining his daily walks and weekly parkrun routine. Recently, he underwent an operation as part of his cancer treatment plan. For Francis, parkrun has been transformative, contributing to his overall fitness and well-being. He emphasised the positive impact of running or walking on one’s mindset, that it provides valuable time for reflection. Reflecting on his journey, Francis expressed a single regret: not starting this healthy pursuit earlier in life.

Unwavering in his commitment, Francis intends to continue walking and participating in parkruns for as long as possible, finding genuine enjoyment in the activity. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the effectiveness of his treatment, and that he will be in remission soon.

White River parkrun organiser Andrea Vianello said he was both delighted and relieved when Francis reached the 250 milestone. “He had stopped for a while because he wasn’t feeling well, right on doing 249 parkruns,” said Vianello. “We all wanted him to make the 250 milestone. We would even have pushed him in a wheelchair, but he said he wanted to complete it on his own two feet. It is quite an achievement.”

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