Queen’s Sport and Staff Wellbeing are encouraging staff to look after their health and wellbeing with a number of incentives already in place through Active Campus, discounted Gym Membership and Physiotherapy, Physical Activity Classes and Cycle+ Scheme.

Head of Queen’s Sport and Physical Wellbeing, Karl Oakes highlights the importance of creating opportunities to draw more people in, more often across all areas of the Five Ways to Wellbeing model.

“We know sport and exercise has a transformative power and contributes to a healthier campus and community spirit. The evidence that physical activity can improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety and help prevent mental health problems is strong.

The University Wellbeing Week has been important for us all to promote the benefits of Physical activity but we would encourage staff to build in positive habits all year round and throughout their life.

The Deep River Rock Queen’s 5K is a milestone for many of staff who regularly take part in so called entry level activities such as our Couch to 5K or weekly Queen's Park Run based at our Upper Malone venue.”

Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Staff Wellbeing, and keen runner, Conor Curran – who will be representing Ireland over 1500m at the European Masters Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland later this year - encouraged all Queen’s staff to consider participating:

“As we move into Spring, it’s great to start into new, positive habits and to promote our health and wellbeing programme for staff. We hope that by paying the entry fee for 20 members of staff, this might be the kick start they need to start new, healthy habits.

We are offering ten £15 spot prizes, generously provided by local businesses for all Queen’s staff participating in either the 3km Fun Run and 5km Open run. We will also be sponsoring prizes for the 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd male, and female finishers and also the 1^st male and 1^st female teams (4 to score) finishers in the 5k Championship Run”.

Any member of staff who wishes to avail of a FREE entry for the Queen’s 3km or 5km is asked to contact Staff Wellbeing at staffwellbeing@qub.ac.uk to register their place

Applications will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis.

Staff are asked to email Wellbeing Officer, Gary Kane (gary.kane@qub.ac.uk) if they have any queries.

Further information on the event can be found here.