A BAILDON man is set take part in a 7 in 7 challenge to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) after former Leeds Rhinos' star Rob Burrow was struck down with the disease.

Stuart Prentice, 43, who works at Produmax in Baildon, will run seven half marathons in seven days along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal starting next Monday.

He said: "The idea for this all started when we saw what happened to Rob Burrow and how this awful disease is slowly destroying him I was inspired by what his former teammate Kevin Sinfield did when he ran seven full marathons in seven days.

"When I was younger, I played for Oulton rugby club in Leeds. Although I only played junior rugby, as an adult, I've always been a fan and watched rugby league. The Leeds Rhinos team that Rob Burrow played in dominated the league for such a long time.

"I always enjoyed watching the Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls rivalries, but there is also a mutual respect from these two sets of fans.

That respect, said Stuart, really showed when other clubs rallied around Leeds Rhinos after Mr Burrow was diagnosed.

"People always put aside their rivalries when things like this happen."

Stuart admitted he is a bit apprehensive about the half marathons as the "weather has putting training back a bit".

Undaunted, he added: "I'll complete it if I have to crawl."

To support Stuart visit justgiving.com/fundraising/stuart-prentice6?utm_id=26