Prime Minister Andy Burnham participated in the 45th Great North Run on Sunday, running the half marathon between Newcastle and South Shields to raise funds for the homelessness charity Changing Lives. Burnham completed the race in 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 35 seconds, making him the first sitting prime minister to take part in the event. Approximately 63,000 runners took part in this year’s race, which marked a record in fundraising with over £25 million raised for various causes.
Burnham, who has run the Great North Run in previous years as well, signed up for this year’s race earlier in 2026 while still serving as the mayor of Greater Manchester. He described the event as “fantastic” and praised the north-east region for its often-overlooked strengths. Speaking ahead of the run, he emphasized the importance of physical activity and said he hoped to lead by example, saying, “When I’m doing my job, I can hardly give up halfway round, can I?” The prime minister also made a lighthearted remark about leaving behind his “dodgy running shorts” from Manchester and buying new ones for the occasion.
The run was part of Burnham’s broader commitment to tackling homelessness. In August, he visited Changing Lives’ Alex’s Place facility in Newcastle to announce a national campaign aimed at ending rough sleeping, backed by an additional £442 million in government funding. The plans include ensuring everyone sleeping rough has access to accommodation by Christmas. Burnham pledged to donate a portion of his salary to charity and donated 15 percent of his first month’s prime ministerial salary to Changing Lives.
Stephen Bell, chief executive of Changing Lives, expressed gratitude for Burnham’s support, noting that the prime minister had seen firsthand the impact of the charity’s work. Burnham shared that during his visit to Alex’s Place, he spoke with residents about the challenges of rebuilding a life after homelessness, highlighting that it involves more than just providing shelter but also sustained support.
Burnham described addressing homelessness as a “moral mission” and encouraged the public to support the charity’s work. Brendan Foster, founder and president of the Great North Run, lauded the event’s success, citing the strong turnout and fundraising total, and welcomed the prime minister’s involvement as a highlight in the race’s history.