THREE hundred miles. Tens and tens and tens of thousands of leaflets. 

After three weeks on the road the heroic NHS crusaders have finally reached their destination.

This epic 23-day march, begun by a group of Darlington mums, had a hard core of 26 but a cast of thousands. It touched hearts and minds across a nation.

And at the London crescendo on Saturday, their message — No to NHS privatisation, Yes to a relentless fightback against this most hated of Tory policies — reached thousands and thousands more.

The core marchers, who trudged through the fields and roads of England in their bid to recreate the historic 1936 Jarrow march for jobs, bear their own tag of honour.

The “300-milers” proudly headed the march from Edmonton in north London as it powered the last 10 miles towards Trafalgar Square.

And without doubt that right was theirs alone.

The pace, after a weeks-long endurance trial, was punishing. Whether it was adrenaline or sheer human spirit that drove them, the march set off at 10am prompt, swallowing up miles of London road and pausing only for a brief 30-minute lunch break before charging on.

“We’re here to serve notice on our politicians — and we don’t want to be late!” quipped co-organiser Rehana Azam.

Earlier heads had been turned as Tottenham locals welcomed the marchers onto their streets.

At Stoke Newington firefighters stood at their station to applaud the hundreds striding past.

So too did passers-by in their droves.

By contrast at Clerkenwell the massive fire station stood empty — a victim of Tory cuts — serving as testimony to the agenda which the marchers so bitterly oppose.

More surreal, though, was the full rendition of Donald Where’s Your Troosers, the unofficial anthem that has kept spirits high on the longest, hardest days.

Whether the Black Hawk helicopter circling Tottenham high street was there for their benefit was impossible to tell.

When they had finally arrived, as families reunited, and new-found comrades departed, emotions spilled over for some.

But while the marchers may have hung up their boots for now, their mission to save the NHS for future generations continues.

“We’ve got to keep the group together,” says marcher Joanne Land.

“We’re planning to go to the Labour and Tory conferences next.”

“We will save our NHS — we’ve proved that we have the spirit.”

Only a fool would bet against them.