A group of 11 locals passionate about encouraging health and fitness in the community is starting the first-ever Yass parkrun, launching on October 19.
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The free, weekly five-kilometre course will loop twice around Riverbank Park, starting at the rotunda, heading through the park towards Yass High School and back around in a clockwise direction.
The event is open to people of all ages and abilities who can choose to walk, jog, run or volunteer.
Riverbank parkrun will take place every Saturday at 8am, the same time as more than 350 other parkruns across Australia.
One of the organisers, Amanda Miller, is a mother of three and has seen the benefits parkrun has had for her family.
Her youngest was diagnosed with chronic lung disease aged two and it was then that Ms Miller decided to encourage her children to live a healthy life and take care of themselves.
She found Gungahlin parkrun and realised the event could also benefit Yass.
"It occurred to me one day as we were volunteering at Gungahlin parkrun," she said.
"My kids were cheering on every participant that passed them with a smile and high-five for good measure.
"Without them realising, we were fostering them to encourage and support those around them to do their best and smile no matter what," she said.
"The parkrun community is like nothing else I have experienced and from it I have made some beautiful, lifelong friends," Ms Miller said.
Every parkrun finishes when the last person crosses the line and is an informal event, so if participants miss one week, they can join the next or any other time.
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Another Riverbank parkrun organiser, Brooke Watson, has found a new lease of life from running and seen how physical activity can help with mental health.
"Back in the day I was a cross country runner and it's amazing to get back into a fitness regime after having kids, especially one that's free and happens at the same time every week with familiar faces and a supportive network," she said.
Toni Neuhaus said she hopes parkrun will create a healthy and motivated community.
"I want to be a good role model for my kids to be out and about volunteering in an all-inclusive event," she said.
"I also like the idea of coming together with other people in Yass who are runners and getting to know them."
Sarah Watson said it's "uplifting and wonderful" to see people of all levels of fitness coming together to move around the five-kilometre course.
Other organisers include Chris Miller, Michelle Sera, Fiona Taylor, Julie Morris, Kendell Witt, Leina Olah and Ness Reid.
Yass Runners and Walkers Club and Russ Crane have also helped to establish Riverbank parkrun as sponsor and event ambassador, respectively.
More details about the October 19 Riverbank parkrun will be available closer to the time.
Once participants have registered online for free, they will be emailed a barcode that can be used at any parkrun location across the world to log and track a run.
Anyone interested in volunteering at Riverbank parkrun can contact the organisers on Facebook.
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