Prime Minister Andy Burnham Completes Great North Run for Homelessness Charity

Prime Minister Andy Burnham completed the 45th Great North Run this weekend, finishing the 13.1 mile race in 01.57. The event saw 63,000 runners travel from Newcastle through Gateshead and South Tyneside to finish in South Shields. Burnham ran to raise money for the North East charity Changing Lives, an organization he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping.

According to a center left source, the Prime Minister donated 15 percent of his first month's salary to Changing Lives as part of a pledge to contribute a share of his earnings to charity monthly. This source also noted that the government's plans to tackle rough sleeping are backed by 442 million pounds in extra funding, with a goal of offering a route off the streets by Christmas to everyone who needs it. Burnham stated that tackling homelessness is a moral mission for him.

The race featured several notable participants, including Newcastle captain Dan Burn, who rang the starter's bell, as well as Chris Kamara and Joe Wicks. Elite winners included Zouhair Talbi and Brigid Kosgei in the running contests, while David Weir and Melanie Woods won the wheelchair races. The event also included a Red Arrows flyover and raised approximately 25 million pounds for various charities.

On Saturday, the Mini and Junior Great North Run took place on Newcastle's Quayside with 13,000 young participants. Organizers described these events as the biggest in their 40 year history. Local traffic was impacted by several road closures and a burst water main near the A189 Redheugh Bridge.