Mayor goes on run to help homeless

NEW mayor Andy Burnham is taking on the Great Manchester Run to raise cash to tackle homelessness.

Labour’s Mr Burnham romped to victory in the poll to become the region’s first elected mayor of Greater Manchester earlier this month.

And he has announced his entry into the Greater Manchester Run – Europe’s biggest 10k – which takes place later this month.

One of is first acts after taking office was to set up a homelessness fund, to which he has pledged to donate 15 percent of his £110,000 salary.

The fund has already surpassed the £10,000 mark in less than a week with more than 330 people donating.

And he has now revealed that he intends to tie up his running shoes to raise even more cash for those sleeping rough.

Andy will be joined in the fitness challenge by Manchester’s ceremonial Lord Mayor Carl Austin-Behan.

Carl will be running to raise funds for the Lord Mayor’s charity We Love MCR.

Mr Burnham said: “I’ve been humbled by the overwhelming response we’ve had since I launched my Homelessness Fund.

“Hundreds of people have dug deep and shown real compassion for their fellow Greater Mancunians.

“But we’re just getting started.

“Later this month, I’ll be running the Great Manchester Run 10k alongside Manchester’s Lord Mayor to raise even more for my homelessness fund.

“I hope people right across Greater Manchester will continue to give what they can and together we can show that rough sleeping and homelessness are not inevitable consequences of a 21st century economy.”

Coun added: brings together.

“While people are running for so many fantastic Austin-Behan “This event Mancunians charities, I’m proud to be running for the Lord Mayor’s Charity, We Love MCR, which improves the lives and life chances of Manchester people.” ●»Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (left) and Manchester Lord Mayor Carl AustinBehan are taking part in the 2017 Great Manchester Run