Rob Burrows' marathon has already raised £1million a month before the event.
A 26.2 mile run will be held on May 14 and see over 10,000 people participate in honour of rugby league legend Rob. Rob was diagnosed with terminal degenerative condition Motor Neurone Disease in 2019.
The run will start at Headingley Stadium - home of the Leeds Rhinos - and raise money for MND charities. The marathon is the first in Leeds for over 20 years and is inspired has by Rob's former teammate Kevin Sinfield OBE, who has raised millions for the charity.
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Organisers have been blown away after fundraising efforts surpassed £1million to support charities with more than a month still to go. The money will help fund a proposed specialist care building in the city and the Leeds Hospitals Charity.
Ex-England international Rob was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2019 aged 37, stunning fans who witnessed his prowess on the rugby league field. The debilitating condition causes muscles to waste away after a loss of nerve cells that control movement, speech and breathing.
There is no effective treatment or cure and half of the 1,500 people diagnosed each year die within 24 months. His courage was highlighted in a documentary which aired on the BBC and showed how the disease is robbing him of his ability to walk and talk in less than a year.
The race, inspired by defence coach at England rugby union, Kevin, has completed feats including running seven marathons in seven days in December 2020. He also ran a gruelling 101 miles in 24 hours last November, setting off from his club's Welford Road and finishing at Headingley Stadium.
Kevin said the marathon will provide a "beacon of light" for those living with and affected by MND. He said: The support for the MND community through the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon has been fantastic. Through the event we are able to provide hope for a community that have been in the dark for so long.
"MND isn’t incurable, it’s just been underfunded, so to host a marathon in honour of my mate Rob and all those living with MND is incredible. We have to continue banging the drum for MND and I know that Sunday 14th May will be able to shine a fantastic light on this cruel disease."
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