A rugby league fan from Overton will walk 100km in a day to raise funds for motor neurone disease inspired by one of his sporting heroes.
Paul James will take on the gruelling walk in just one day this Friday from Leeds to Hull for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
Paul is a big rugby league supporter who refereed matches involving legends of the sport Rob Burrow and his close friend and team-mate Kevin Sinfield while both were up-and-coming junior players.
Both Burrow and Sinfield went on to become two of the greats of rugby league, playing for Leeds Rhinos and their country, and winning numerous titles.
But in 2019, Rob was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which damages the nervous system causing muscle weakness.
Since then both Rob and Kevin have campaigned to raise money to fight the disease.
Rob and his family's story was featured on the TV show 'Living With MND' earlier this year.
"I’m a big Wigan Warriors fan and have watched Rob and Kev many times, but going back further when I lived in Wigan I was an amateur rugby league referee so came across both of them as they came through the junior ranks," said Paul.
"The original idea to do the walk came from Simon Hallas, currently living in Paris but from Garstang - we worked together at Heysham 1 power station."
Paul will be joined by others on the walk, hoping to raise as much money as possible to help with the research and treatment of the disease.
They will start at Leeds Rhinos' ground and finish at Hull Football Club.
"Other members of the team are James from Ulverston, Debbie, Patrick and Gary from Preston, Craig from Sale, Jim from Altrincham, Jim from Hull, Andy from Switzerland...a mixed bag of rugby league, rugby union and football supporters," he said.
More than £19,000 has been raised to date.
Paul was also inspired to take on the challenge for MNDA after meeting Morecambe man Graham Jackson earlier this year.
Graham was also diagnosed with MND in 2019 and has been taking on exercise bike challenges to raise money for the MNDA.
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