Andy Burnham To Run 10K For Charity

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, will be lacing up his trainers this Spring to raise money for a worthy cause.

Andy will be taking part in the 10K at Great Manchester Run and raising funds for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity.

The organisation funds treatment, research and care at nine hospitals in the Greater Manchester area including Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. In total, the nine hospitals treat more than 1 million patients per year.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The NHS is something I hold dear in my heart, so this year I wanted to do something to give back to the organisation which has made a huge different to families in Greater Manchester.

“Many people in this area, and across the North West, owe their lives to the NHS and particularly to the nine hospitals within Manchester Foundation Trust. The staff work tirelessly and that is why I will be wearing the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity T-shirt come 24 May.

“January is a time for resolutions and new goals – I’d encourage anyone whose life has been helped or supported by our wonderful NHS, and is able to take part, to sign up to this year’s Great Manchester Run.”

Yesterday (Tuesday, 7^th January), Andy attended the Charity’s Oxford Road office, close to where four of the trust’s nine hospitals are based, to meet with the team and learn more about the incredible work of both the Trust and Manchester Foundation Trust Charity. He also collected the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity T-shirt, which he will wear to run the race in May.

He also spoke to press about the Great Manchester Run, which this year is taking place on Sunday, 24^th May 2020.

Not only will Andy be running with countless elite athletes, celebrity names and hardworking fundraisers, Great Manchester Run will also see a “blue wave” of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust employees taking part. Last year the Trust had 650 staff taking part, but this year they’re hoping to exceed 1,000 runners.

Manchester Foundation Trust Charity is excited to welcome Andy Burnham onto its Great Manchester Run team and is now encouraging others to run, jog or walk either the 10K or half marathon events to raise funds for one or more of the nine hospitals it fundraises for: Manchester Royal Infirmary; Wythenshawe Hospital; Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital; Manchester Royal Eye Hospital; Saint Mary’s Hospital; University Dental Hospital of Manchester; Withington Community Hospital; Trafford General Hospital and Altrincham Hospital.

Sarah Naismith, Director of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome Andy into the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity family. Having him run the Great Manchester Run in our honour is a fantastic privilege.

“The Great Manchester Run is always an extremely exciting event in our calendar and I’m excited the Mayor of Greater Manchester will be part of it for 2020.

“I hope Andy has now set an example to encourage others to sign up and take part to raise money for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity.”

If you'd like to sponsor Andy, you can visit his JustGiving Page here.

If you’d like to sign up to Great Manchester Run and raise funds for one of the charities in the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity family click here.