A group of former Rugby League Internationals and Super League stars will be joined by former members of the British Special Forces on this marathon canoeing challenge to raise funds to fight Motor Neurone Disease.

The group will be led by former Great Britain stars and former Leeds Rhinos players including Barrie McDermott, Keith Senior, Danny Maguire and Kevin Sinfield.

They'll be joined by former Great Britain Rugby League internationals Joe Lydon and Phil Clarke.

Sky Sports and BBC Sport Rugby League pundits will also be participating.

The group are paddling along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, from Leeds Dock to the DW Stadium in Wigan. The four-day challenge begins on Monday 4th October. 

Their journey will finish when they hand over the official match ball for the 2021 BetFred Super League Grand Final, on Thursday afternoon of that week.

The challenge has been dubbed 'Row4Rob'. 

The group have been inspired by former Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain star Rob Burrow, who is fighting this terrible disease. 

They are also taking inspiration from the late Great Britain Rugby League international Mike Gregory, who passed away after a battle with MND. Mike was a teammate and contemporary of Joe Lydon. 

The DW Stadium - the final destination for the paddlers - is of course home to Wigan Warriors who Mike Gregory was coaching when he became ill. 

Prior to that, there will be a competitive element to some stretches of the journey. Teams made up of 'Rugby League Rivals' will race each other over short distances. Keep an eye on this page for more details.

As well as some of Rob Burrow's former Leeds Rhinos team mates, it's expected that a number of Rugby League stars will join the challenge. These include Paul Sculthorpe, Kevin Brown, Paul Cullen, Terry O'Connor, Sean O'Loughlin and Mike Forshaw.

You can donate to Row4Rob NOW via text.

Text MNDROW 4 to 70085 to donate £4 

Texts cost £4 plus one standard rate message

Maximum donations of £20 per text.

Donations received by text will be added as offline donations at the end of each day during the challenge.

Here is the event schedule:

Day 1 - Monday 4 October 

(Leeds Dock to Low Bradley, Keighley - Distance: 26.5 miles)

Day 2 - Tuesday 5 October 

(Low Bradley, Keighley to Reedley Marina, Burnley - Distance: 24.2 miles)

Day 3 - Wedsday 6 October 

(Reedley Marina Burnley to Riley Green, Hoghton - Distance: 23 miles)

Day 4 - Thursday 7 October

(Riley Green Marina to DW Stadium, Wigan Distance: 18 Miles)