Man to run for MND charity in memory of best friend’s mum
A Leeds Rhinos fan will run 108 miles for motor neurone disease charity in memory of his best friend’s mum.
Andrew Richardson will take on an ultramarathon from his hometown, Horsforth, to the Yorkshire Three Peaks and back to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The 30-year-old was inspired to attempt the challenge after his best friend’s mother died from the condition in October last year.
Motor neurone disease is a progressive condition that damages nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness and wasting.
After seeing how rugby league great Kevin Sinfield continued the legacy of teammate Rob Burrow, who died from the disease in 2024, Andrew wanted to support his friend Will.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I’ve been a Leeds Rhino season ticket holder for I think 20 years.”
“I watched Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield as I grew up playing on the pitch. After their playing career, I thought I couldn’t have any more respect for them and then they proved me very wrong.”
“Kevin Sinfield has always said that he’s just running for his mate and I like to think I am just running for my mate Will in the same way.”
The ultramarathon will begin in Horsforth on 11 April, the same date the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon was launched four years ago.
Andrew will run through Guiseley, Ilkley and Skipton, then up Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, before returning to Horsforth. He expects the 108 miles to take about 30 hours.
Training has been driven by the cause he is running for.
He said: “Every time I don’t want to do something like I don’t want to go on a run, I think people with motor neurone disease don’t get a chance to stop. They can’t take a rest from their condition, they wake up and they have to live it.”
“I’m very lucky that I can put myself in a position of pain and have the option to get out of it. I can manage being in pain for 30 hours, I just can’t imagine what it would be like doing it day in, day out.”
Last year Andrew raised more than £4,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association by running 100km across all 33 wards in Leeds.
His goal was to support the charity’s aim of improving access to care, research and campaigning for people living with or affected by motor neurone disease.
The 108-mile run will be as much a mental test as a physical one, so friends will join him along sections of the route.
He said: “People are the best endurance tactic you can possibly have.”
“The people around me are incredible people and my wonderful friends will join me for various different stints, cycling next to me, running with me, or even shouting from the side of the road.”
The moment Andrew is looking forward to most is completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks alongside his best friend Will, who motivated him to take on the challenge.
He said: “We’re going to finish it at about one in the morning and it’ll be pitch black.”
“I’m looking forward to it because it’ll be a great moment. I’ll probably end up crying my eyes out.”
