Leeds Marathon: Thousands to take part in honour of Rob Burrow
- Published
Rob Burrow crossing the finish line at the 2023 Leeds Marathon
About 14,000 runners will be taking part in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and Half Marathon later.
The races will start at the AMT Headingley Stadium from 09:00 BST with local people urged to line the streets to create an electric atmosphere.
The event is being held in honour of former Leeds Rhino player Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019.
Ahead of the race, Burrow wished all the runners the best of luck.
He is also expected to meet his former teammate and friend Kevin Sinfield, who has raised more than £800,000 for MND, at the finish line.
To cheer on the competitors there will be entertainment from the Leeds Pipe Band, Leeds Rock Choir, Garforth Brass Band and Otley Ukulele Orchestra, among others.
Thousands of people turned out for the race in 2023
There will also be two dedicated viewing points at Otley Road in Adel and at Otley Market Place.
The event will raise funds for several charities including the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and a Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to build a Rob Burrow Centre for MND.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council's deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: "Leeds has a well-deserved reputation as a passionate and knowledgeable sporting city, and it will be great to see people lining the streets and showing their support for the runners on Sunday."
The runners will follow a circular route that initially winds around Woodhouse Moor before heading for Adel, Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley, Leeds City Council said.
St Michael's Lane in Headingley has been closed since 04:00 and North Lane and Cardigan Road will be closed from 06:00.
Some other road closures will come into effect between 06:00 and 07.30 in other parts of Headingley and Far Headingley.
Further closures will then come into force from 08:30 in the Adel, Lawnswood and Bramhope areas and from 09:00 around Pool in Wharfedale and Otley.
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, external, Twitter, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk, external.