Friends and family of much-missed Cumbrian footballer Tony Hopper are preparing to go the extra mile – and then some – in his memory.
They are running the Rob Burrow Marathon in Leeds next weekend as a tribute to Tony and to raise money for the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.
Tony’s wife Sue is one of the 17 people – including some of Tony’s former football team-mates – who have been training for the big running challenge in Yorkshire.
They will all tackle the 26.2-mile course next Sunday – meaning that, collectively, they will put in 445.4 miles on the roads in Tony’s memory.
Sue decided to enter the marathon after watching a documentary about Rob Burrow, the Leeds Rhinos rugby league star who has MND, and his inspirational friend and team-mate Kevin Sinfield.
“I then decided to recruit some people as the whole ethos of the marathon is run with a mate for a mate,” she said.
“We are of course running for Tony, so I approached a lot of our friends and family and to my surprise some people actually said yes!
“Along the way, I have also connected with people that are running the marathon locally, so they also form part of our team – they are running for their own mate/ family member, but together there are 17 of us!”
The 17 are Sue, Andy Foster, Alison Jones, Ann Milburn, Claire Borradaile, Clare Raine, Helen Tiffen, Joni Armstrong, Kate Stark, Linda and Chris Patterson, Ian Milburn, Phill Pattinson, Paul McClelland, Richard Prokas, Sharon Dickson and Stuart Irving.
They are all determined to raise money to further boost the “fightback fund” for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in Tony’s memory, which has been raising money since the former Carlisle United and Workington Reds star’s death in October 2018 aged 42 from MND.
“I have been following Rob Burrow’s story since he was diagnosed, just like I have followed other professional sports people like Doddie Weir, Stephen Darby and Len Johnrose to name a few,” added Sue.
To donate to the team of marathon runners who are raising money in Tony Hopper's memory, click HERE
“Rob and his wife were brave enough to let the cameras in and show the true reality of what living with MND is like. It’s exhausting, heart breaking and frustrating, but there are some moments of light.
“The disease takes away so much of the person’s life and all you can do is adapt to each day and the challenges that you face.
“Lots of people remember Tony as a footballer – he was a really popular guy and I have never met anyone who had a bad word to say about him, he always made time for every person he met. But to us, he was more than a footballer and his public image: he was a very loving and caring husband and an amazing dad.
“My three sons were only 11, nine and five when he died and at his diagnosis, he broke down – he just could not bare the fact he would not be there for his kids growing up.
“His diagnosis came out of the blue as he was super fit and we had our whole lives ahead of us, filled with plans and dreams.
“All my focus was on creating memories with my husband and children while he was able to, but we also launched into challenges and the phenomenal support we had from friends, family and the general public was unbelievable.
“Five years on, I am still overwhelmed by how many people supported us during those difficult times with donations and personal challenges like marathons [which I now know is super hard] to raise money for us personally to create memories and also for the MND Association.
“I will never stop saying how grateful we are as a family. My boys look back on those photos and we talk about how much fun we had, a priceless gift, often from strangers.
“Cumbria is a very special place to live, the people come together and we are so proud to be Cumbrians.”
The marathon is the latest fundraising initiative in Tony’s memory after a black tie ball in Carlisle in March raised £20,000.
Sue added: “Like myself, there are quite a few people who have never run a marathon in our team, there is also a few that never will again [this also includes me]…
“The training is gruelling, especially in the winter, with a young family and having to juggle daily life, so hats off to anyone who is doing one, they deserve that medal.
“Tony’s fightback fund will be sitting at approximately £68,000 after the marathon, which will hopefully make a difference – but this is an ongoing fight.
“Like a marathon, it is long and fraught with ups and downs. One day there will be a happy ending for those diagnosed and not a death sentence.
“So much is unknown about MND, but it’s astounding to think that there is no treatment and with diagnosis, most of the time is it a ticking timebomb.
“Thankfully there is a glimmer of hope, with a new drug on the horizon that hopefully will make a difference to people in the future.”
To donate to the team of marathon runners who are raising money in Tony Hopper's memory, click HERE
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