Running has proved to be incredible for both the mind and body and this Tameside group are ensuring they reap all the benefits.

Run Talk Run is a mental health support group first and a running group second. The organisation was born in 2017 after founder Jess Robson began to struggle with depression.

She leant on running as an outlet and discovered it was easier for her to open up once she was outdoors.

Realising that others could benefit from being in the fresh air and taking part in physical exercise too, she began hosting weekly sessions for people to meet.

This was a catalyst for communities across the UK and a story that Debbie Davenport was inspired by. 

Debbie too had struggled with mental health but began running three years ago in a bid to lose weight. She dropped over 4 stone but found the benefits to running ran so much deeper than a physical transformation.

Working as a teacher, Debbie found that taking herself away from the classroom to explore the world around her was a vital step in retaining her positive outlook on life.

She stumbled across Run Talk Run and decided that she would organise her own event in the local area.

Meeting on a Thursday at 6pm, the group attracted a few members to begin with, each of which came along to experience a gentle jog and a listening ear.

The first event was held in October 2020 and since that milestone Debbie has welcomed 14 different runners, with six of those attending regularly.

She has seen first-hand the positives that this group has created, bringing people out of their shell and introducing them to a whole new lifestyle.

“The first man to join our group was a guy called Lawrence and when he began, he wasn’t much of a talker. But now he’s completed almost every run since we started and has come to life each week.

“There’s no pressure with Run Talk Run, it’s not a race and we always ensure that everyone finishes together,” Debbie says.

The group is open to all abilities and is free for runners to float in and out of whenever they please.

The team meet every Thursday evening at 6pm outside Starbucks, Asda Ashton, Cavendish Street, Ashton and complete a set 5k route.

Upon finishing there is the opportunity to return home or gift yourself a well-deserved Starbucks treat.

Run Talk Run operate across the UK and offers everyone the chance to be heard.

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