Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield carried his great friend and former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow over the finish line at the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon after pushing him for 26.2 miles.
Just a couple of metres before the end, Sinfield lifted Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in late 2019, out of his specially adapted wheelchair and the pair completed the course together in a hugely emotional moment.
The crowd outside the Headingley Stadium in Leeds cheered them on as Sinfield, who joined 12,500 other runners in Leeds’ first marathon in 20 years, gave his pal a kiss of affection.
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Sinfield has raised more than £ 8 million for MND charities after several other ventures, including an Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge in November when he ran seven back-to-back ultra-marathons.
In late 2020, he ran seven marathons in seven days and in 2021 he completed a run of 101 miles in 24 hours.
Sunday’s event, plus the Leeds Half Marathon which also took place on Sunday, was held by Leeds City Council in partnership with Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All charity and has already surpassed the £1m fundraising mark.
Sinfield told the Press Association on Friday: “To raise money for the MND Association and the Leeds Hospitals Charity is really important, but this is also about a celebration of friendship.
"We get the chance to do it together with 12,500 people and hopefully people will come out and see us and say hello out on the streets supporting.
"I think it's a wonderful thing for Leeds. The Council have been fantastic, Run For All have been brilliant and I'm sure it will be an incredible day on Sunday."
Event organisers have been inspired to stage the city's first marathon in 20 years by Sinfield's previous running challenges.
Burrow's wife Lindsey also took part in her first full marathon, despite carrying a knee injury.
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