Rugby League legend Rob Burrow has said the marathon held in his honour was “one of the best days” of his life.
The 40-year-old, who has motor neurone disease, said of the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon: “The whole day was one day in a million.”
Rob was pushed around the 26.2-mile route by ex-Leeds Rhinos teammate Kevin Sinfield – who plucked him from his specially adapted wheelchair to carry him over the finish line.
And in an emotional moment Kevin planted a kiss on his brave pal’s cheek as they crossed the line, leading Rob to joke people will be jealous.
Dad-of-three Rob told BBC Look North: “By the time I was finished with the run I felt like I’d been running the whole way. It really did take it out of me but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
“I’m so happy to be involved in the first one of my marathons. It was a great day and to be carried in over the final few yards [by Kev] was incredible. And how many people will be jealous of the smacker on the cheek? It just shows the love and care for me – and I assure you I have the same for him.”
Rob was diagnosed in 2019 and he, his family and friends have campaigned to raise awareness of MND. Kevin, now a defence coach for the England Rugby Union team, has raised more than £8million for MND.
He ran seven marathons in seven days in 2020 and last year completed his Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge with seven back-to-back ultra-marathons, running 40 miles each day.
Sunday’s Leeds Marathon, in which 12,000 took part, raised over £800,000 for the Leeds Hospitals Charity, bringing to over £4m the amount raised to build a specialist MND centre at Seacroft Hospital.
And Rob said he had “never been so proud” of wife Lindsey, who smashed her £7,777 fundraising target to raise over £80,000 in the marathon, the first in the city for 20 years.
Rob said: “Of course my wife smashed it, I knew she would because she’s the most determined girl I’ve ever met. The amount raised in her name is testimony to her. I’m one proud husband, I love her so much.”
