Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon sign ups reach major figure as entry target smashed

With the sad news in the past week that former Scotland international rugby union player Doddie Weir lost his battle with Motor Neurone Disease, it’s important to keep the fight for awareness and fundraising active.

Weir’s friend and rugby league legend Rob Burrow is also afflicted by MND and has been raising awareness since his diagnosis almost three years ago in December 2019.

Burrow has been helped massively in his efforts to raise funds and awareness by former teammate and lifelong best mate Kevin Sinfield.

Sinfield recently completed his 7 in 7 challenge where he ran seven ultra marathons in seven days culminating in arriving at Old Trafford for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup final between Australia and Samoa.

That campaign has raised an astonishing £3 million with the total still rising and those funds being allocated to the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, where work started this past week and can be read about here.

The fundraising doesn’t stop though and today the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon passed 10,000 entries.

Burrow had hoped to achieve 7,777 entries in honour of his shirt number during his time with Leeds Rhinos, however much like Kevin Sinfield realised, who’d set a target of £777,777 for his ultra marathons, the rugby league community is an amazing one and that goal has been smashed.

In a video shared by Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All twitter page, Burrow is seen addressing those who have signed up and thanking them for their efforts.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to take part in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon,” the Rhinos legend said.

📽️ The incredible @Rob7Burrow wanted to send this thankyou message to show his appreciation for all your support as we reach 10,000 entries for the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon!

There's STILL space to enter, so sign up and #RunForAMateWithAMate 👉 https://t.co/nuoVb60hII pic.twitter.com/9nxSak6iIy

— Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All (@runforall) November 30, 2022

“10,000 people have now signed up and it is brilliant to see so many people taking on their first marathon. It will be great to see the marathon back in Leeds and I will be taking part with my mate Kev pushing me round the course.

“I hope to see many of you out there running with your mates too. So many people are running to raise money for MND and the Leeds Hospitals Charities appeal.”

The marathon is scheduled to take place on the 14th May 2023 and there are still spots available to enter, which you can do here.