By Damon Cooper
The president and club secretary from the University of Leeds Men’s Rugby League club have already raised £710 for a Wortley-based mental health charity ahead of Sunday’s Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon.
The James Burke Foundation was established in 2018 by Sharon Burke in memory of her son James, who was a student at the University of Leeds and a player at the University of Leeds Men’s Rugby League club but sadly took his own life in 2017.
“No words to say what this means,” Sharon Burke said.
Sharon has previously worked with Geoff Burrow, Rob’s dad, with both seeing their son’s former teammates fight through adversity to fight MND and poor mental health.
Donations range from Bramley born Jamie Jones-Buchanan raising funds by dancing in a ‘Strictly’ contest at Blackpool Tower ballroom to James Woodburn-Hall, Halifax Panthers player and Jamaican international, who made an emotional tribute to his former teammate.
The 2024 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is held in support of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal as well as the MND Association after the Former Leeds Rhinos player was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019.
Many participants will have their own reasons for taking part to raise money for a charity of their choice, or for one of the partner charities.
You can donate to The James Burke Foundation here.