Wigan Warriors fan's 145-mile challenge for Rob Burrow and MNDA

Rob Burrow has thanked the Wigan fan who has embarked on a huge fundraiser for Motor Neurone Disease.
Martyn ClarkeMartyn Clarke
Martyn Clarke

Martyn Clarke, 46, is running more than 12 miles per day for 12 consecutive days.

He has already smashed his £150 target, collecting around £2,500 of donations for the MNDA within a day of starting his 145-mile challenge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Clarke, a former St Judes player and Orrell St James junior coach, was already planning on doing the pre-Christmas run.

But when he heard about Kevin Sinfield's seven marathons in seven days, which raised £2.5m for his former Leeds team-mate Burrow and MNDA, he was inspired to turn it into a fund-raiser.

And he was surprised when Burrow himself sent him a message on Twitter to thank him for his effort.

"I didn't expect that, so it was really nice," said Clarke, a lifelong Wigan fan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I'd already signed up to do my first ultra-run and then I turned on TV the other day, I saw Kevin Sinfield on Breakfast TV and I thought, 'Why not?'

"It's for a great cause and so many people have already donated so much - I've been blown away by the support."

Clarke has done some lung-busting endurance challenges before, including an Ironman, but nothing of this scale since a back injury during the Manchester marathon two years ago.

He completed his first 12 miles on Thursday and will do a different route around the borough each day until December 22.

You can donate by visiting here