Walkers finish Liverpool to Leeds MND challenge

3 hours ago

Elizabeth Baines,in Castlefordand

Grace Wood,Yorkshire

The walkers stopped off at Castleford Tigers on route

Elizabeth Baines/BBC A large group of people in blue and purple T-shirts standing on the side of a rugby pitch — The walkers stopped off at Castleford Tigers on route

Hundreds of people have completed a 350-mile (560km) walk from Liverpool to Leeds to raise money for MND charities.

March of the Day III was a six-day walk around 47 football and rugby league stadiums, starting at Anfield in Liverpool and finishing at the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Seacroft.

The charity event was organised by the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation and Leeds Hospital Charity, in memory of Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow and in support of footballers Stephen Darby and Marcus Stewart.

Speaking at Castleford Tigers' home ground, Burrow's widow Lindsay said finishing the challenge at the Leeds MND Centre would be "incredibly special".

"The centre is helping so many people and so many families. To see the work that is being done there is incredible," she said.

"We just want that cure so desperately – or something that halts the progression of the disease - and that's what we're here for.

"We're all here to keep banging the drum, to give people hope. We will keep trying. We still don't have a cure but we'll keep on doing all we can."

Lindsay Burrow's husband Rob died from MND two years ago

Elizabeth Baines/BBC Lindsay Burrow - a woman with tied back brown hair wearing a purple T shirt - smiles at the camera — Lindsay Burrow's husband Rob died from MND two years ago

It was the third fundraising March of the Day walk the charities have completed, with previous events raising more than £370,000.

The event was also in support of former Huddersfield Town striker Marcus Stewart and Liverpool, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers player Stephen Darby, who also have MND.

Darby's brother Kevin said the huge amount of support they had received was "a reminder of how many people are thinking about him".

He said: "He would love to be able to do something like this, but he can't do anything like it at all.

"So when you get off the bus at 02:00, you're having a little moan, you think he would love to be out there doing anything at all. That's what keeps us going."

Kevin Darby's brother Stephen - who played for Liverpool, Bolton and Bradford City - has MND

Elizabeth Baines/BBC Kevin Darby - a man with short ginger hair and glasses - looks into the camera. He is wearing a purple T-shirt. — Kevin Darby's brother Stephen - who played for Liverpool, Bolton and Bradford City - has MND

Stephen's father-in-law Len Houghton said it was "heartwarming" to see so many people join in.

"There's people stop you in the street to give you money, and there's people joined in from all over the country," he said.

"It's vital we raise the money, for awareness, and to raise the funds to try to find a cure. A cure would mean everything. It's an awful illness so the sooner the better."

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