An avid runner has created a running route in Leeds shaped like a reindeer to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND). John McLoughlin was inspired by rugby legends Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow who have been fundraising money for an MND centre in Leeds.
The Roundhay dad created the reindeer route for #RoundhayRudolph last year and managed to raise £3,000 for charities. This year, he has brought back the festive challenge in a bid to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association and Leeds Charity Hospitals.
John has been closely following Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow’s story as they raise money and awareness of the disease and wants to do his part to help them raise funds.
He told LeedsLive: “I’m in awe of what they are doing. I want to be able to raise as much as I can, anything we can do to raise money.
“I’m in awe of Rob and his family, I watched his documentary. The way they adjusted their lives to support him. He has been hit by this disease. It's not just about him, it’s about his awareness and looking out for everyone else affected. I’m in awe of them, Rob and Kevin, and the family.”
John would take part in running and marathons before the pandemic, but during the lockdowns he stopped exercising. He decided to be active again for his own mental health just before Christmas in December 2020.
The dad of two spotted that he could make an animal out of his running route and after showing his wife and friends, who thought it was brilliant, he decided to use it as a way to raise funds for charity with his daughter and people in the Roundhay area.
“For me it’s just a feel good thing, it’s just a bit of fun,” John said: “That Christmas that year when it was meant to be back to normal but went back into lockdown, I realised for my mental health it’s doing me no good. I needed to get back to running. I was looking at one of the routes from my house and I said I could make an animal out of it. I had a quick look at the map and said if I turn left I could make a leg.
“I thought it looked liked like a reindeer (the running route on the map), showed it to my wife and some friends, they said it was brilliant. My daughter (Jessica) was six at the time, she wanted to do fundraising for various things during Covid but I said why don’t we do the reindeer idea and see if we can share it with people in the area to bring a bit of festive joy.”
People don’t have to take part in the route by running, they can run, walk or cycle. They can also donate if they can afford to. If you want to take part in the RoundhayRudolph or more details about it, click here.
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