Published 42 minutes ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago
Andy Burnham becomes first serving PM to take on Great North Run half-marathon
Burnham ran the half-marathon to support Changing Lives, which helps more than 14,000 people a year facing homelessness.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham became the first sitting Prime Minister to participate in the Great North Run, wearing a Number 10 bib. The race, celebrating its 45th anniversary, welcomed more than 60,000 participants traveling from Newcastle to South Shields.
Burnham is running to support Changing Lives, a homelessness charity assisting over 14,000 people annually. He visited the organization last month to launch a national drive aimed at ending rough sleeping.
"Tackling homelessness is a moral mission for me," the Prime Minister said, having donated 15% of his first month's salary to the charity. He promised to end rough sleeping on his first day in Downing Street.
Alongside Angela Rayner, Burnham visited Alex's Place in Newcastle to promote a "relentless" push to end rough sleeping by Christmas. He emphasized that rebuilding lives requires consistent support beyond just providing shelter.
The Prime Minister described the race as a "fantastic event," noting it provides a platform bringing national attention to the North East. He believes active participation encourages others to engage in community initiatives.