This is for you, Jo: Organisers reminisce ahead of final-ever fun run at Birstall park in memory of much-loved MP

The fun run, established by married couple Julie Smith and Dave Hawksworth, had its first outing at Oakwell Hall and Country Park in Birstall in 2017 in honour of Jo Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen who was killed 12 months before.

The event has since become an annual fixture in the local calendar and brings together runners, families and communities to celebrate Jo’s belief that ‘we have far more in common than that which divides us’.

But this year’s run, on what will be the tenth anniversary of Jo’s death, will be the last-ever in its current form.

“After ten years, it is time for a break,” Dave told the Reporter Series. “It takes a lot of organising. It is very rewarding and it makes you feel proud to have done it.

“In some ways it is a shame that the run won’t continue after this but it will evolve and the run legacy will continue. It is rewarding to have something nice to come out of something so absolutely devastating and appalling, and to such a lovely person.

“The legacy of that is having good community events, people getting together and friendships being made as a result of this.”

The couple first met Jo when the future MP was visiting the homes of local Labour party members when the election process for the vacant Batley and Spen seat had begun.

“She was just a breath of fresh air,” Julie revealed. “She was really genuine and warm and the kind of person that remembered everything that you told her despite the fact she was meeting thousands of people.

“She made you feel special and cared for. She had star quality.”

Three days after Jo was killed, Julie and Dave visited a friend with the aim of doing something to honour her, resulting in the Run For Jo.

Dave said: “Jo had said she’d love to do a Parkrun but said she never had the time. That is why it is the Run For Jo. I always think, ‘this is for you, Jo. We are doing it for you and all these people are running for you because you never got to do it.’”

The first event saw 1,500 flock to the park, including comedian and actor Eddie Izzard, while a host of musicians lined the course. A year later, more people turned up with a big screen showing England’s World Cup game with Panama. The Covid-19 pandemic meant runners had to complete the 6.5km challenge in their own time before it returned in 2022.

“Eddie Izzard loved it,” Dave said. “He was taking selfies for people. He was so good and such a great person. There were people all over the place. We had the brass band playing in the courtyard. The music was great for the runners.

“It went down really well. Following that success there was pressure to do it again the following year! We ended up with hundreds of people watching the game.

“We adapted it every year to make it better.”

Julie added: “The whole thing has been about bringing people together. We didn’t want any competitive element.

“It has always been a fun run, not a race.”

The final Run For Jo takes place this Sunday, June 21, at Oakwell Hall, and coincides with the Great Get Together weekend which forms part of a nationwide moment of community and remembrance inspired by Jo’s life and values.