Last night we gathered together the runners and walkers in our 2022 Run With The Rhinos team for a pre-event party at Headingley Stadium, ahead of the Run For All Leeds 10k this Sunday.
Amongst those in attendance was Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Rohan Smith, who will be joining staff, supporters and his assistant Jamie Jones-Buchanan in taking on the 10k run through Leeds this weekend to raise funds for Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Leeds Hospital Charity’s appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.
The Australian thanked those in attendance for taking part in this year’s event and reaffirmed his commitment to getting out and playing an active role in supporting the local community.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, Rohan said: “I’m really excited to kickstart my running regiment and what better way to get out and see a bit of Leeds and also meet some great people than running in this fantastic event.
“I’ve done my best to get to as many events as I can since joining the club to get to understand the people and the local community, and this is certainly a fantastic opportunity to meet a lot of our wonderful supporters on one day and have a bit of a run with them.
“I love trying to help my family, or the team and my players however I can. This is a great reminder to consider these who are less fortunate or doing it tough and give back what we can, so if there’s something I can do to make a difference and help others I’m always keen to get involved.”
Having grown up around rugby league all his life, the 40-year-old son of former Bradford and Wakefield manager Brian Smith wants to take this opportunity to step outside his comfort zone and says he is never one to back down from a new challenge.
“Running isn’t something I’ve done much of before so I’m definitely hoping it can be the starting point to launch my interest. I like doing a few weights and chasing a ball around, but I’ve never just loved running on it’s own.
“One thing I’m very passionate about is encouraging people to do things that are a little uncomfortable and take on new challenges, so I’ve think I have to walk the walk there and test myself in a different way.
“I’m pretty curious what I can put together on Sunday but I think doing it with other people as part of the Rhinos team will make it feel like a really fun day out as well as a challenge at the same time.”
To sponsor Rohan Smith’s Leeds 10k bid, please donate to his fundraising page by CLICKING HERE.
All money raised by Run With The Rhinos this year will be split between supporting the work of Leeds Rhinos Foundation to change lives through sport, and Leeds Hospital Charity’s appeal to help build the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.