Lord Leigh of Hurley raises £54,000 for WaterAid with latest run

Lord Leigh of Hurley has raised more than £54,000 for WaterAid by completing the Maidenhead Easter 10, writes Madeleine Evans.

The Conservative peer participated in the Good Friday event on March 29, continuing his long-standing commitment to fundraising for charity.

Since 2013, Lord Leigh has completed an annual race for WaterAid, raising a cumulative total of more than £600,000.

Just a week before his 65th birthday, Lord Leigh completed the 10-mile run with a time of one hour and 27 minutes.

He said: “I was pleased, it was a good result.

“You always do a bit better in a race than you do on your own, pushed on by the atmosphere. I really enjoyed it.”

He said training was tough, especially as his usual route along the Thames in Hurley was affected by flooding.

WaterAid, an international not-for-profit organisation focused on improving water and sanitary health for everyone, was ‘very happy’ with the sum raised.

Lord Leigh said on his fundraising page: “Without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives.

“With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.”

He first came to work with the charity when he entered a running event in Bisham which was sponsored by WaterAid.

He said: “I entered it not really knowing what it was, and it went so well that I’ve carried on every year. I’m happy to help them.”

Now, he lobbies parliament on behalf of the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme, and co-chairs its all-party parliamentary group, which works with WaterAid to improve global water and sanitation access.

When asked whether he would keep running, he said: “Every year I say never again, and every year I do it – running is addictive.”

He was encouraged by support from MP Theresa May, who often volunteers to marshal the race.

He added: “I’m hoping she’ll continue marshalling even if she’s no longer the MP – if Theresa’s there I promise I’ll do it.”

Visit t.co/Sng8FdpdTo to view the fundraiser.