'Really special': Hundreds take part in MND Mile

Hundreds of people took part in an inclusive mile-long run ahead of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon this weekend.

The MND Mile took place earlier around the Leeds Beckett Headingley Campus, ahead of the full and half marathons on Sunday.

The run was set up so people of all abilities could fundraise in honour of rugby league legend Burrow, who died last year after living with motor neurone disease (MND).

Participant Tom Davies, who was diagnosed with MND at the age of 29, was pushed around the route by his partner, Alex Ross, before then getting up to walk across the finish line. Ms Ross said: "To do this with Tom has been really special."

Ms Ross added: "Tom was diagnosed last July and it has been a really challenging time.

"He is so brave and just the way he has faced everything has kept me strong and being able to do something like this together is really special."

Mr Davies added he had enjoyed the race as everyone had been "so friendly".

Former rugby player Kevin Sinfield also took part in the mile and is taking part in the marathon on Sunday in honour of his former team-mate and friend.

He said: "The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon has been a real success over the last couple of years and we will all get to share in that tomorrow, but for people who can't run that distance for whatever reason, this is a real inclusive event that they can share together."

The mile-long route was set up by the Run For All charity and Leeds Beckett University.

The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon launched in 2023 to honour Burrow's campaign to fund research into MND.

The former Leeds Rhinos player had lived with MND after he was diagnosed in late 2019. He died in June at the age of 41.

With the help of Mr Sinfield, they both raised more than £15m for MND charities and both men were also awarded CBEs in the 2024 New Year Honours.

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