Eddie Izzard in the running for Oakwell Hall run?

COMEDIAN and accomplished marathon runner Eddie Izzard is being lined up to appear at a memorial event at Birstall's Oakwell Hall & Country Park this summer in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox.
Eddie Izzard running for Sport ReliefEddie Izzard running for Sport Relief
Eddie Izzard running for Sport Relief

According to organisers, Mr Izzard has been invited to the Jo Cox Foundation event and has indicated he wants to attend.

Race organiser Julie Smith, who knew Jo before she became MP for Batley and Spen and was a close friend until her death, said the comedian had given his support to a previous event but was unable to attend due to diary commitments.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Julie, who is involved with MoreInCommon, an arm of the Jo Fox Foundation, which was set up in the wake of the Labour MP’s death to raise money and awareness of the causes she championed, said: “We invited Eddie to another event in March but he was unable to attend and so sent some DVDs instead.

“We understand there’s a possibility he may be able to come to this event.”

She added: “This all started because a group of Jo’s friends wanted to organise something to honour her around her birthday and to make a fun day out she would have enjoyed.

“Jo always wanted to join in with the park run at Oakwell and she was so busy she never got the chance.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Graeme Rayner of Batley Community Choir, who will be singing at the start of the event, said: “We were honoured to be asked to take part in the Run for Jo, having sung in Batley on her birthday last year, when our community was still coming to terms with her death.

“We’re looking forward to an uplifting day.”

The event will be held on June 25 and organisers are keen to attract as many runners as possible.