Coming to a parkrun near you
Because the oxygen in every other breath you take comes from the ocean
A lifelong love of the sea and a career in healthcare inspired me to turn my weekend runs into a platform for ocean awareness.
Encouraged by my daughter to join my local parkrun in 2024, I began running in a dolphin costume — part humour, part message. The costume draws smiles and questions, opening conversations about why ocean health matters.
The ocean covers 71 per cent of the planet, produces half our oxygen and absorbs around 30 per cent of human-made COâ‚‚. It underpins life on Earth — from shipping that delivers 90% of global goods, including medical supplies, to food which feeds billions and marine organisms that provide compounds for new medicines. Yet only a small percentage is protected, and it faces growing threats from pollution, overfishing and climate change.
To help others take action, I founded CPDmatch, a not-for-profit platform which signposts healthcare professionals to free courses and resources on sustainability and planetary health. “Running for the Ocean” is both symbolic and practical — a reminder that every other breath we take comes from the sea, and that protecting it is essential for human health.