Excitement is brewing in Dundee this week ahead of Saturday's Camperdown parkrun when everyone's favourite lockdown coach will be in attendance as part of BBC Children in Need’s Spotacular fundraising campaign - Walk With Joe. 

Joe Wicks AKA The BodyCoach will be remembered by many for his daily PE With Joe livestreams on YouTube. At the start of the year he was made an MBE for services to fitness as well as charity in the UK and abroad, having helped raise £2 million for Children in Need with a 24-hour fitness challenge.

He has once again teamed up with Children In Need, and this year will be taking part in four parkruns in November - two 5Ks and two Junior events. Dundee will be the campaign's only Scottish location the other stops being Maidenhead, Newport and Rushcliffe in Nottingham. 

The idea behind Walk With Joe is to encourage more people to try out parkrun. Following the long periods of isolation in recent years, the campaign aims to reconnect people within local communities and build a sense of togetherness to help change young lives. By attending a local parkrun location and getting together to walk and talk, participants will strengthen their community ties, as well as their own mental and physical wellbeing.

Speaking about Walk With Joe, a spokesperson from Camperdown parkrun said: "If you know someone who has been reluctant to come to parkrun, why not mention this to them - it may encourage them along for a walk with Joe. If you know people who would like to experience parkrun, but who haven't been along yet, then this is a great opportunity to show them all that parkrun has to offer. parkrun = parkfun!"

Saturday's 5K will involve everything that's good about parkrun, plus additional fun - the whole BBC Children In Need crew will be there bringing a mobile stage and (of course) Pudsey The Bear! Spotty fancy dress is encouraged, Joe Wicks will be walking the course and there will be a brilliant festival atmosphere. Our Camperdown spokesperson continued: "Walk With Joe event at Camperdown parkrun will start at 9:30am. However, we’d encourage you to arrive early to enjoy warm ups with Joe Wicks and Pudsey, soak up the atmosphere and make the most of the morning."

You can find out more on the Camperdown parkrun's Facebook page here. 

Image: parkrun/Children In Need