Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to return in 2025

Rob Burrow with his wife Lindsey, daughters Macy and Maya and Kevin Sinfield, pictured after the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon earlier this year

A marathon in memory of former Leeds Rhinos rugby player Rob Burrow has been confirmed to take place again next year.

People of all ages and abilities will be able to take part in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on Sunday 11 May 2025.

The event was first held in 2022 after being organised by Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All, but next year will mark the first marathon since Mr Burrow’s death aged 41 in June.

Tristan Batley-Kyle, operations director at Run For All, said organisers wanted to “continue to honour and celebrate Rob”, who lived with motor neurone disease since late 2019.

He said: “We invite participants of all abilities and of all walks of life to lace up their trainers and Run for Rob in 2025.

“Rob’s efforts and campaigning to increase awareness of MND and to raise millions to fund a specialist Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre in Leeds, has been truly inspirational.

“We will continue to honour and celebrate Rob, raise funds for so many vital causes and bang the drum for the MND community.

Earlier this year, the 26.2-mile (42.2km) event attracted more than 14,000 runners, including Mr Burrow’s former Leeds Rhinos teammate Kevin Sinfield.

Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019

In 2023, Mr Sinfield was pictured carrying his friend over the finish line.

Participants in the 2025 event are encouraged to fundraise for a charity of their choice or one of the event’s partner charities.

They include the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal, the MND Association, Candlelighters, Leeds North and West Foundation, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, St Gemma’s Hospice and the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

After being diagnosed in 2019, Mr Burrow had been working towards raising £6.8m for Leeds Hospitals Charity for a new purpose-built care centre for people with MND who were living in and around West Yorkshire.

Since his death, work has begun to build the centre at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.

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