Leeds Marathon runners tell of Rob Burrow inspiration

BBC News

11-05-2025

The emotional moment Kevin Sinfield carried his best friend Rob Burrow over the finish line of the 2023 Leeds Marathon went down in sporting history.Two years later, the third Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will see more than 10,000 runners pound the streets to help raise money to fight motor neurone disease (MND).Burrow had lived with the disease since being diagnosed in 2019, and this will be the first marathon in his name since he died aged 41 last year.One of those inspired to take part by Burrow and Sinfield is Andy Gough, who was diagnosed with a type of MND in March 2024.
Now living with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), Andy will be pushed around the course in a wheelchair by his son Matt and friend Richard Green.Andy, from Leeds, said: "The support has been amazing, it's going to be very emotional for me especially, but I'm really looking forward to it."It is Rob's legacy now, and it's great to be a part of it."Before his diagnosis, Andy was a keen runner who took part in the Great North Run and Leeds 10k.He is taking part in a Delta Run assisted wheelchair donated by GFS Ltd in Hull, and he and his son have been practising at Thornes Park Stadium in Wakefield at weekends.
Matt said: "We are trying to build up some miles with it, we haven't yet tackled any hills, so we need to do some of that."We have been ramping up the miles ourselves though."He said seeing the "buzz" at the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon inspired him to enter."The streets were just lined with people and even then I thought, I wish I'd have taken part," he said."It will be very emotional and it will be nice to cross the finish line together. "It is hilly, it is long, it will be a challenge but I'm actually looking forward to it."I just hope my dad will be supplying us with sweets and drinks and trying to get us through it!"The team have so far raised more than £6,000 for the MND Association's West Yorkshire branch.
Eleanor Thomson, Labour councillor for Rawdon and Guiseley, ran the London Marathon this year before tackling the Leeds event - which she said felt more emotional "because it's home"."It is just the most beautiful day, so many people turn out on the streets, you just see so many people you know," she said."Even at that hideous hill [near Otley Chevin], the view is so spectacular - the worst bit is Golden Acre to Adel Co-op, that second hill kills me."When I get to the Co-op and I see the little robots, I know it's mostly all downhill by then!"Eleanor added: "It does feel more emotional because it's home - it is all the places you know and the people you love who pop up along the course and cheer you on. "Both times I have run it with friends and we have taken it in turns to have wobbles and we have dragged each other up the hill and laughed our way into the stadium."Also running is Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council, who has run seven marathons in 70 days to raise money for the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital. He has so far raised more than £1,500.He said: "My seventh and final marathon in this challenge will be the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon since Rob's passing."This is a significant moment that calls for our collective support. Please donate to help make this vision a reality."
Adriano Picano is another runner who has clocked up multiple marathons in recent weeks - Sunday's event will be his 15th in 15 weeks.He said: "I did the Rob Burrow Marathon last year, and I did a few after that. So I said to my wife, I'm going to do 10."So I started at 10 but it has spiralled to 15."He said he had always been into fitness, but stepped it up after lockdown when he started training in the gym from 05:00. Talking about his preparation, he said: "The alarm goes off between 4 and 4:15, much to my wife's displeasure. I need my beauty sleep so I'm usually in bed for like 7.45pm."I work for a bank in service management, life is pretty busy but this is a good cause to support."He said, when running the marathon last year, he was "bowled over by the passion and everyone fighting for a cause".He said: "I was overawed by the legend that is Kevin Sinfield, and Rob Burrow - what a hero, what an inspiration."Adriano is running to raise money for the MND Association, and has so far raised more than £3,000.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.