Belfast community wellbeing movement
AfriRun Belfast
Run. Celebrate. Connect.
A welcoming community organisation improving physical and mental wellbeing through running, Afro dance fitness, volunteering, community engagement and the celebration of African culture across Northern Ireland.
Weekly RunsFriendly pace. No pressure.
Afro DanceMovement, music and joy.
VolunteerCheer zones and events.
About AfriRun
More than a running club.
AfriRun creates experiences that bring people together through movement, music, wellbeing, volunteering and community pride.
Movement has the power to connect people, improve health and strengthen communities.Founded in Belfast, AfriRun provides welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds can run, walk, dance, volunteer and build meaningful friendships while celebrating African culture and promoting inclusion.
CommunityEveryone belongs.
InclusionEvery background, ability and fitness level is welcome.
HealthPromoting healthier lives through movement.
CelebrationCelebrating African culture, diversity and achievement.
ServiceGiving back through volunteering and community engagement.
GrowthHelping people become confident, healthier and connected.
About the Founder
Led by health, movement and community.
AfriRun was established by Dr Salmon Sotannde, bringing together medical knowledge, sports and exercise medicine, running leadership and a deep belief in community belonging.
Founder & Director
Dr Salmon Sotannde (Dr Papaz)
Founder & Director, AfriRun Belfast CIC
I am a medical doctor with a Master’s degree in Sports & Exercise Medicine, a qualified Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF), and a certified running coach. Throughout my journey, I have been passionate about using movement, exercise and community to improve health and wellbeing.
After moving to Belfast, I saw how physical activity could bring people together, but I also recognised that many people, particularly those new to Northern Ireland, needed a welcoming community where they could stay active, build friendships and feel a sense of belonging.
That inspired me to establish AfriRun Belfast CIC.
AfriRun is more than a running club. It is a community movement that uses running, walking, dance fitness and volunteering to improve physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. We welcome people of all abilities and backgrounds, creating opportunities to move, celebrate and grow together.
Our vision is to build a healthier, more connected Belfast through movement and community engagement.
Medical DoctorSports & Exercise MedicineCommunity Health AdvocateLeader in Running FitnessCertified Running Coach
Weekly Runs
Friendly miles. Stronger minds.
Join AfriRun for relaxed, supportive community runs and parkrun meetups. New runners, walkers, families and experienced runners are all welcome.
Saturday parkrun energy
Waterworks, Belfast and community routes across the city.
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Weekly Community Runs
Supportive movement for all levels, from first-timers to regular runners.
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Walks and Hikes
Community hikes and outdoor wellbeing activities that build friendship and confidence.
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Doctor and sports scientist-led approach
A community-first organisation with strong health, wellbeing and sports science foundations.
Dance Fitness
Afro rhythm, movement and joy.
Afro Dance Fitness brings music, culture and movement together in a fun, energetic and inclusive setting.
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Afro Dance Fitness
High-energy sessions celebrating African music, rhythm, movement and confidence.
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Community Socials
Social moments that help people meet, connect and feel part of something positive.
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Wellbeing Activities
Activities that support physical health, mental wellbeing and stronger community bonds.
Volunteer With Us
The biggest hype squad.
AfriRun supports major running events across Northern Ireland through cheer zones, encouragement, race volunteering and community engagement.
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Event Cheer Zones
Bring energy, drums, music and encouragement to runners when they need it most.
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Volunteer Engagement
Help at races, community events, wellbeing activities and local initiatives.
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Cultural Celebration
Celebrate African culture while promoting inclusion across Northern Ireland.
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Leadership Growth
Create opportunities for friendship, confidence, leadership and personal development.
Events Calendar
What is coming up.
A simple framework for upcoming runs, dance sessions, volunteering, hikes and community socials.
Gallery
Real community energy.
Photos, race moments, parkrun meetups, volunteers, dance energy and member achievements can live here as AfriRun grows.
Our Impact
Movement that reaches beyond the finish line.
AfriRun’s impact is measured in confidence, friendship, first-time participation, cultural celebration and people feeling supported across Northern Ireland.
Cheer zones, culture and community support.
AfriRun brings music, energy and encouragement to major running events, while creating accessible ways for people to move, volunteer, connect and celebrate African culture.
Success Stories
Real people. Real confidence. Real community.
This page can grow into a home for member journeys, first parkruns, race volunteering memories, dance fitness wins and partnership stories.
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First-time parkrunners
Stories from people who joined their first run, built confidence and found a welcoming community.
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Race-day support
Moments from AfriRun cheer zones where encouragement helped runners keep going.
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Community belonging
Stories showing how movement, music and volunteering help people feel connected in Belfast.
Health Resources
Practical wellbeing support.
A simple resource hub for safe movement, beginner running, dance fitness, recovery, volunteering and mental wellbeing signposting.
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Getting started with parkrun
Friendly guidance for beginners, including what to expect, what to wear and how to start at your own pace.
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Warm-up, recovery and injury prevention
Simple sports-science informed notes for warming up, cooling down and listening to your body.
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Movement and mental wellbeing
Resources on confidence, connection, routine and the role community activity can play in wellbeing.
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Volunteering and community health
Signposting for people who want to support others, take part in events and build community leadership.
Community Partnerships
Building wellbeing across Northern Ireland.
AfriRun works with race organisers, councils, community bodies, sporting organisations and digital partners to create welcoming spaces for movement, volunteering, culture and inclusion.
Race community
Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon
AfriRun brings volunteer energy, cheer-zone support and community encouragement to major running events.
Events
Antrim Coast Half Marathon
Supporting the wider running calendar through participation, volunteering, visibility and community spirit.
Local community
Belfast City Council
Aligned with community wellbeing, inclusion, local engagement and healthier city participation.
Sport
Athletics Northern Ireland
Connecting AfriRun’s community movement with the wider athletics and participation ecosystem.
Digital support
ClientCapture
Supporting AfriRun with a digital home for membership, updates, newsletters, partnerships and community impact.
Partner with AfriRun
Community, health and corporate engagement.
AfriRun welcomes collaboration with schools, universities, charities, healthcare organisations, race organisers, councils and employers who want to support inclusion, movement and wellbeing.
Sponsor AfriRun
Support movement, culture and inclusion.
Sponsors can support weekly community activity, race volunteer teams, dance fitness, health education, community hikes, social events and future programmes across Northern Ireland.
Corporate Engagement
Workplace wellbeing with real energy.
AfriRun can support workplace wellbeing sessions, inclusive activity days, community volunteering, event cheer zones and cultural celebration programmes for organisations.
Membership Form
Join AfriRun Belfast.
Complete the membership form below to register interest in runs, dance fitness, volunteering and community activities.
News & Blog
Updates from the community.
Use this area for member achievements, race stories, partnerships, upcoming sessions, health resources and impact updates.
Contact
Start with a message.
Whether you want to run, dance, volunteer, partner or sponsor, AfriRun is ready to welcome you.
Volunteer Update Guide
Built to grow.
This first version is built as a clean framework. News, events, gallery photos, testimonials, success stories, monthly newsletters, impact numbers, health resources and partner names can be changed without redesigning the site.
How AfriRun can update content later
The editable content is grouped in the small JavaScript arrays near the bottom of the file: events, news, testimonials, partners and gallery captions. A volunteer can change the text, dates or image links, then upload the updated index.html to the website.
- Replace sample events with confirmed weekly runs, dance fitness times and volunteering opportunities.
- Update Our Impact numbers as AfriRun grows.
- Add Success Stories and Health Resources as separate community pages when content is ready.
- Update the monthly newsletter by replacing newsletter/newsletter-current.jpg with the next month’s image.
- Add real partner names once permission is confirmed.
- Add new gallery photos by replacing image sources or moving to a simple CMS later.
- Keep the Google membership form embedded until AfriRun wants a full website-controlled form.