Graham Returns to Leeds Marathon to Run for MNDA

Graham is returning to run the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon next May after becoming personally impacted by MND.

Graham started running almost 9 years ago at the age of 44, but became a runner for the MND Association after Rob Burrow's diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease.

"I am Wigan born and bred, and a lifelong Wigan Warriors fan, and Rob is and always will be one of our own, a member of the rugby league family."

It was when Kevin Sinfield planned his first 7 in 7 challenge that he asked the MNDA to plan their own challenges...

"...That's how my deep-routed love for running for those with MND and their families began."

Since then, Graham has taken part in all the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathons, as well as running the London Marathon in 2022, and three ultramarathons for the MNDA.

However, MND recently became a much more personal issue for Graham.

After moving to Shrewsbury with wife Amanda, Graham joined the Shropshire Shufflers Running Club, and met fellow Shuffler and now good friend Nick Deane. Nick had started having some health problems, particularly with slurred speech, and told Graham that he was undergoing tests to find out what was wrong.

"With some knowledge of MND, I had an awful feeling, and prayed that what Nick had wasn't MND."

But, sadly, Nick was diagnosed with MND shortly after - but he has not let it beat him! Since his diagnosis, Nick has organised and completed the National Three Peaks Challenge with 50 others, as well as organising an MND gala dinner at Shrewsbury Town FC to raise money for MNDA.

"Now, when I pull on my running shoes (or when I don't want to because my motivation is low), I think of Nick and his family, along with Rob, Lindsey, and their beautiful children...No matter what aches, pains, and niggles I've got, I haven't got MND, and I've always vowed to run for those who can't."

Nevertheless, it seemed that MND would remain present in Graham's life. Another good friend and former colleague of Graham's, Steve, was a regular runner at the Shrewsbury parkrun, often running with his cousin Helen. Bumping into Helen a few months ago, Graham inquired into how Steve was, as he hadn't seen him in a while. She informed him that Steve's wife Carol had been unwell.

Some more time passed, when Graham ran into Steve and Helen one Saturday at the parkrun.

"Steve was quiet and upset, he struggled to tell me that Carol had died. She'd had health issues for a long time, but when he told me that she had been diagnosed with MND not long before she passed, we cried and hugged."

Last year, Graham ran the Leeds Marathon with "BURROW 7" on his back, and was lucky enough to cross the finish line with Lindsey Burrow, but this year he will run with Nick, Rob, and Carol's names on his vest.

"Leeds Marathon is my thing now, I love it. It brings the running and rugby league communities together in a beautiful but challenging setting, with great support from great northerners, and I can't envisage a year when I won't enter it for the MND Association, as we have to keep banging the drum!"

To date, Graham has succeeded in raising over £20,500 for MNDA, and is aiming to raise a total of £27,777 in honour of Rob Burrow. You can help Graham meet his fundraising goal by visiting his JustGiving page, seen below, because there isn't a finish line until there is a cure.