Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon runners to help cross the finish line of target to build £6.8 million MND centre in Leeds

On Sunday 12^th May 2024, thousands of runners from across the nation will come together for the second annual Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.

The marathon is named in honour of Leeds Rhinos rugby legend Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019.

Last year, over 12,000 runners took part in the city’s first marathon in over 20 years, raising more than 4 million for charities, including £1.1 million for Leeds Hospitals Charity, one of the event’s charity partners.

Over 600 people put their running shoes on to join team Leeds Hospitals Charity, fundraising for their appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital, part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

There has now been over £5.3 million raised of the charity’s £6.8 million fundraising target to build the specialist MND centre in Leeds. The charity hopes money raised at the marathon will provide the final fundraising boost to reach their target, creating a centre that will help people with MND and their families ‘live in the now’.

51-year-old Adie Turford from Kellington, North Yorkshire is taking on the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon as part of his own fundraising challenge to complete three marathons in just 15 days.

Adie will cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon in Lincolnshire on the 28^th April and the Great Breweries Marathon in Belgium on 5^th May before heading to Leeds to take on the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.

Adie taking part in the 2023 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon

We spoke to Adie about why he was inspired to take on this epic challenge to support our Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal, he said:

“I was a keen runner many years ago, but due to injuries I had to stop which was really hard on me mentally, but in 2020 I had life-changing surgery on my foot which meant I could start running again.”

“I had no intention of ever running another marathon until the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon was announced, I guess he was the only person I'd run for! Rob was always my lad’s favourite player and was really nice to him when he attended one of the rhinos camps too.”

“I ran the marathon last year and raised £1,600 for the appeal, but I walked up the big hill and I felt I still owed the course something, so I’m determined to beat the hill this time around!”

Paul Watkins, Director of Fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity said:

“We’re really looking forward to the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon this May, it was incredible to be part of the first-ever marathon last year, where tens of thousands of people came together - a community of people united by sport, friendship and of course, the fight against motor neurone disease.

“We are so close to reaching our £6.8 million target, but we need help from the public to help make Rob’s dream a reality, so whether you’re a seasoned runner or been inspired to ‘run with a mate, for a mate’ by Kevin and Rob, please get your running shoes on and visit our website to sign up today.”

Leeds Hospitals Charity has a limited number of guaranteed charity places available for the 2024 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and is currently offering 2 for 1 places when you sign up with a friend.

Sign up to the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon

Donate to the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal Today

Help us raise £6.8 million to build a specialist Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Care Centre in Leeds, to give people living with MND the best quality of life.

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