I’m Running the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon for Leeds Hospitals Charity

Marathon running has never been my thing, and this will be my first—apparently one of the toughest out there! I have no doubt Rob would have made sure of that.

I had the privilege of playing alongside Rob and forming a beautiful friendship, sharing memories that I will cherish forever. Everyone knows the sacrifice he made to raise awareness for those suffering from MND, bringing this cruel disease into the spotlight and fighting to make a real difference.

The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease will provide vital care and support to families facing this devastating condition. Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of so many—especially Kevin Sinfield—this dream is becoming a reality. But we must keep pushing forward. Now, more than ever, we need to bang the drum for the next step: finding a cure.

I’m doing my little bit by taking on something completely outside my comfort zone. While I’ll go through some pain on the day, Rob will be in my thoughts, pushing me through every step.

As a kid, I watched the London Marathon and was inspired to one day run one myself. But at 21, I was diagnosed with incurable inflammatory arthritis, which left me unable to move most of the time. Thanks to biweekly injections, I can now manage the pain, but training and recovery are still incredibly tough. Simply getting to the finish line will be a huge achievement for me, and I can’t wait to be part of this incredible event.

Rob and Lindsey are both so inspiring to me. When I think life is getting tough, I think of the strength they have shown, and it pushes me to keep going.

I like to go under the radar and sometimes feel uncomfortable posting on social media, so apologies if I only ever post when trying to raise money. But this is something really close to my heart, and any donation, big or small, will not only support an amazing cause but will also spur me on through every mile.

Thank you so much for your support!

Irv xx

justgiving.com/page/anthony-irvine82