"There's no finish line until there's a cure": Graham Runs Leeds Marathon for MND

Graham is running the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon this May to raise money for the MND Association.

At fifty-three years old, Graham lives in Shrewsbury with his wife Amanda, but is originally from Wigan and a diehard Wigan Warriors fan.

Having been running properly for nine years, he first began running for the MNDA in 2019 after Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND.

"At times like that, clubs and allegiances don't matter. Rob was rugby league family and, as a sport, I felt we had to lead the way in raising vital funds and awareness to fight Motor Neurone Disease."

Graham has run all three Rob Burrow marathons, and last year proudly earned his Legends bib, and so far has managed to raise over £23,000 - 

"But there's no finish line until there's a cure!"

However, since Rob's diagnosis, MND has become a much more personal condition for Graham.

A few years ago, his friend Nick, a fellow member of the Shropshire Shufflers running club, was diagnosed with MND after displaying symptoms initially affecting his speech. Nick sadly passed away in late 2025, but not before raising £88,000 for the MNDA, a fundraising effort which is being continued by his friends and family. Also in 2025, Graham's good friend and former colleague Steve lost his wife Carol to MND after a late diagnosis.

"It wasn't until very late in her illness that MND was suspected, and it is this kind of thing that we have to keep banging the drum for, so that MND patients receive an early diagnosis to get the right care and support."

A good friend of Graham's daughter, Les, also unfortunately lost his battle with MND in late 2025.

"I'm just sorry that I only got to meet Les a couple of times, but I'll be proud to wear the names of Rob, Nick, Carol, and Les on my orange and blue running vest at the 2026 marathon, and throughout the year at other races."

But, 2025 was also memorable for the right reasons: Graham ran the law few kilometers of the Leeds Marathon with Lindsey Burrow, as well as chatting with Barrie McDermott along the course. He also represented the MNDA in New York and Las Vegas.

And these aren't the only challenges Graham has taken on for the MNDA: his biggest feat was a 150km run from Wigan's Brick Community Stadium to Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

"I will never stop running for those who can't...I might bleed cherry and white, but I bleed orange and blue too."

You can help Graham to raise funds for the MNDA by visiting his JustGiving page, seen below.