Leeds Rhinos Foundation, the official charity of Leeds Rhinos, has pledged its commitment to support the Rob Burrow Fund with four fundraising events in 2020.
The charity, which aims to help some of the city’s most vulnerable people by harnessing the power of sport to make a lasting, positive impact on individual’s lives, will be running four events during the year as joint fundraising efforts.
In July, supporters are invited to join past players and Rhinos staff to take part in the Leeds 10k on 5th July with the Run with the Rhinos team. The annual run is one of the flagship fundraising events for the charity and this year all funds raised will be split between Leeds Rhinos Foundation and the Rob Burrow Fund, which has been set up to support the former Rhinos star and his young family following his recent Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis.
Bob Bowman, Chief Operating Officer for Leeds Rhinos Foundation, said: “Our charity was set up to support people who are in need in our community, so it is right that we focus our fundraising efforts to helping Rob as he faces his toughest battle. Rob was part of the club’s golden generation and has provided supporters with many magical memories that have made him one of the most loved and respected players in our sport.
“He has always supported our charity and taken time to make a difference in his community and now it is our turn to help him.
“I know the club have been inundated with people contacting them to ask what they can do and we hope the Run with the Rhinos event will be the perfect opportunity for people to challenge themselves and come together to support Rob and his family and also help raise awareness for MND.”
Alongside the Run with the Rhinos event, Leeds Rhinos Foundation will be organising more opportunities for people to give the charity and the Burrow Fund their backing.
Bowman added: “We have other fundraising initiatives coming up including a Dinner which promises to be a glitzy event held at the stadium, the Grand Raffle Draw which we have lined up an unbelievable prize for and I am just finalising the details for a personal challenge I will undertake later in the year.
“Last year we had 167 people run and walk the 10K and it would be great if we can get even more this year. Gary Hetherington and Paul Caddick have volunteered to lead our walking team this year and for those looking to run the 10k we are hoping to have a few former players including Kevin Sinfield, Barrie McDermott, Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Keith Senior in the team who can give some extra motivation. To see supporters, staff and players coming together, wearing running t-shirts to support Rob, would be overwhelming and I hope many people are able to join us.”
Run With The Rhinos 2020 takes place at the Run For All Leeds 10k on 5th July. Entry is £27 and all runners will get a race T-shirt and invite to a post-race party.
There is a minimum fundraising suggestion of £50 and this can be done by visiting www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/runwiththerhinos2020
You can request a sponsorship form and get more information on the Run With the Rhinos team by contacting ben.berry@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.
To sign up for the Run With The Rhinos team visit the ‘Events’ page at tickets.therhinos.co.uk