READING EAST MP Matt Rodda took some much-needed time out from Brexit matters to run the 2019 Reading Half Marathon.
And he had good reason for taking part: he was running for the charity Home-Start.
He wasn’t the only Labour party member in the 19,000-strong list of runners. Fellow local party members Nick Hatton and Hari Sarasan also took part.
Mr Rodda told The Wokingham Paper: “It was great to be able to take part in the Reading Half Marathon and to raise money for Home-Start, which offers help to families. This year’s half marathon was an amazing community event with thousands of runners raising money for good causes and incredible help from the organisers, staff and supporters, who came to cheer us on.
“And it was good to be able to meet up with so many people I know from Wokingham, Woodley and Reading, including Hari and Nick.
“I hadn’t realised they were running only for me to bump into the afterwards and to find out they had also run the Wokingham Half.”
Mr Hatton added: “The weather was excellent and so was the crowd support (jelly babies, bands, drummers, and high fives).
“Reading half always has a carnival atmosphere. Running it, it feels as though the whole town comes out onto the streets for the day.
“It feels like an event the whole town can rally around, and it brings out the best in Reading. Call it community spirit, camaraderie, or whatever; there’s something great in the air.”
