It’s officially race week for our 2022 Run With The Rhinos team who will be running and walking the Run for All Leeds 10k on Sunday to raise money for Leeds Rhinos Foundation and the Rob Burrow Centre for MND Appeal.
Amongst those taking part will be Leeds Rhinos Netball player Michelle Magee, who has signed up for the race along with Team Manager Sian Foley-Corah.
Northern Ireland international Magee will be representing her country at the Commonwealth Games this summer and also starred in the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool. She’s also previously captained Northern Ireland U17s and was Vice Captain for the U21s team, competing in the 2017 World Youth Cup in Botswana, before establishing herself in the national senior team.
Alongside her role with Leeds Rhinos Netball, Sian works full time for Direct Line Group, a major insurance company in the UK, and also holds a position on the Yorkshire Netball board.
The duo will be proudly flying the flag for the club’s Netball cohort in the Foundation’s annual flagship fundraiser and Sian, a lifelong Leeds fan, says it will be a privilege to wear the Rhinos colours in this weekend’s race.
“I’ve been the Team Manager for Leeds Rhinos Netball for the past two seasons. It’s something that I’ve done internationally for England and when we had a franchise in the region before, so it’s something that I’m well versed in and enjoy doing. Basically my job entails sorting out all the matchday logistics and arrangements to ensure the players and coaches know exactly what’s going on and all they need to concentrate on is performing in the match.
“My family are proud Loiners and huge fans of all the city’s sporting teams, and having done the Leeds 10k before and seeing the Run With The Rhinos team there I thought it’s time to get involved given my role at the club.
“Being part of the Rhinos set up has brought me closer to some of the amazing work the Foundation does, especially working with Franchise Director Dan Busfield who has really opened my eyes to the incredible impact they have in the community, including now on our Netball pathways.
“It feels like a wonderful opportunity to not only be part of a huge sporting event in Leeds, but also feel the privilege of being part of the Rhinos team running it to support two important causes. It’s a great chance to keep on everyone’s radars the importance of Rob’s work to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease and support the variety of work the Foundation deliver which a lot of our Netball players and staff volunteer within to help change lives through sport.
After signing up for the 2023 Rob Burrow Marathon in Leeds, Sian will be using this weekend’s 10k as part of her training for the big run and says having Rhinos defender Magee running alongside her will make the experience even more special.
“I signed up for the Rob Burrow Marathon next year which will be an incredible event for the city, so this is a good way to begin my training in earnest and start building up from here.
“I’ll be running with Michelle who’s one our Netball Superleague players and is starting her preparations for playing at the Commonwealth Games. Knowing I’ll have her by my side is a really nice feeling because we’re all really proud of her being selected for her country and it’s a nice way to do something as a Netball family.
“I’m really excited for Sunday, there’s always an added dynamic to running a race when you’re part of a big event. You always feel nervous even if you’ve done a 10k before because you don’t know what the weather may be like or how the route feels, but that’s totally normal.
If you would like to show your support for Sian, Michelle and the rest of the Run With The Rhinos team please sponsor them at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/RunWithTheRhinos2022,
All money raised from the Run with the Rhinos team will be split between Leeds Hospital Charity’s appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, to help the charity continue the deliver of their many projects which change the lives of thousands of people across Leeds.
The deadline for entries is midnight on Wednesday 29th June. To sign up for our Run With The Rhinos team please CLICK HERE.