22 MPs donned their running shoes to mark the NHS’s 75th on Wednesday 5 July – the NHS’s birthday.

The event – running two laps of St James’s Park – was spearheaded by Nick Smith MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on parkrun and organised in partnership with NHS England and parkrun UK.

Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England set the MPs on their way, while Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director, NHS England thanked them for their support.

The politicians who took part were:

• Chris Evans (Lab)
• James Duddridge (Con)
• Eddie Hughes (Con)
• Kim Leadbeater (Lab)
• Mark Pawsey (Con)
• Derek Thomas (Con)
• Nick Smith (Lab)
• James Morris (Con)
• Robin Millar (Con)
• Will Quince (Con)
• Valerie Vaz (Lab)
• Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab)
• Lord Bethell (Con)
• Claire Hanna (SDLP)
• Suzanne Webb (Con)
• Patrick Grady (SNP)
• Simon Hart MP (Con)
• Dan Jarvis (Lab)
• Matt Hancock (Con)
• Helen Hayes (Lab)
• Thangam Debbonaire (Lab)
• Jess Morden (Lab).

Nick Smith MP, said: “It’s great that MPs from across our country came out and took part in this fun activity. I’m glad we could all come together and run in celebration of our NHS’s huge 75 year milestone.”

NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “We know the NHS is the institution that makes our nation most proud to be British and, on the day it turns 75, I was delighted to join parliamentarians from across the UK as they donned their trainers to take part in this special run to celebrate all it has delivered for us over that time and to thank its staff and volunteers, past and present.”

This weekend sees parkrun and junior parkrun events across the UK hosting ‘parkrun for the NHS’ celebrations.