Leeds ‘Manbassadors’ Complete Citywide Men’s Health Challenge
November 28, 2025Local team runs 55km across Leeds to raise awareness and funds
A group of men working within Leeds City Council’s Active Leeds service have completed a significant physical challenge to promote men’s health in the city. Known as the ‘Manbassadors’, the team ran all 11 five-kilometre parkruns across Leeds in a single day, covering a total of 55 kilometres in under 12 hours.
The event took place during Men’s Health Awareness Month in November and raised approximately £1,400 for local men’s support groups. The Manbassadors programme is a workplace initiative aimed at fostering a male-friendly wellbeing culture among council colleagues and encouraging open conversations about men’s health.
Context of Men’s Health in Leeds and National Strategy
This challenge coincides with the publication of the UK government’s first ever Men’s Health Strategy, which has been welcomed by public health officials and local councillors in Leeds. The strategy highlights several concerning statistics about men’s health, including:
- Men live on average nearly four years less than women
- 36% of male deaths occur before the age of 75
- Three in four deaths by suicide in 2024 were men
- 69% of cardiovascular disease deaths in under-75s were male
Leeds has been addressing men’s health for several years, with a 2016 report by Leeds Beckett University titled The State of Men’s Health in Leeds setting the foundation for coordinated action. This led to the creation of Men’s Health Unlocked, a partnership between local charities and the council that supports projects and events focused on men’s wellbeing.
About the Manbassadors and Their Challenge
The Manbassadors team comprises 12 active men who provide peer support and signposting services within the council. Neil Jones, a member of the team who works in Active Leeds’ development team, described the challenge:
“We set off at 6am in Wetherby and finished just before 6pm in Middleton. We really enjoyed it – although it was a lot tougher than we thought.”
Since its establishment in May 2024, the Manbassadors have supported around 50 colleagues with various health issues, emphasising the importance of early intervention.
Local Leadership and Future Commitments
Councillor Paul Wray, Leeds City Council’s lead member for men’s health, noted that the council’s focus on men’s health is longstanding and welcomed the government’s new strategy. He highlighted the barriers men face in addressing their physical and mental health and stressed the importance of initiatives like Men’s Health Unlocked and the Manbassadors programme in encouraging men to seek help.
Victoria Eaton, director of public health at Leeds City Council, expressed pride in the city’s contribution to shaping the national strategy. She reaffirmed the council’s commitment to addressing health inequalities and supporting organisations that work to improve men’s and women’s health across Leeds.
