Motor
Neurone Disease (MND) is a devastating condition that progressively damages
parts of the nervous system and leads to muscle weakness. It is currently
life-shortening with no cure.
The disease
and its impact have recently been in the public spotlight through the efforts
of former Rugby League player Kevin Sinfield and a series of challenges and
fundraising activities he has undertaken to show his support for his best mate
and MND sufferer Rob Burrows, who sadly passed away in 2024.
Kevin has
inspired many people to join the fight to help ease the suffering that MND
causes and hopefully to one day find a cure.
One of those
people who have taken that inspiration and is now set to do his own challenge
to raise awareness and funds is Latics supporter and Wigan Warriors Wheelchair
Rugby player, Jordan Burns.
Jordan, who
himself is a wheelchair user, was moved by the determination and love shown by
Kevin Sinfield and set his own target of raising £1100 for MND.
To achieve
this Jordan is hoping to complete the challenge of covering 40 miles on a static
handbike, the event is scheduled to take place in the foyer of Robin Park
Leisure Centre, on Tuesday, 9th December starting at 8am.
I caught up
with Jordan as he was in training and preparing for the challenge by doing 2
hour stints on a handbike, he told me that he has currently been training for “six
months” and that he is “enjoying the training, it’s helping with his mind,
general fitness and giving him a target to push and aim for”
To put the
task into some context, Jordan says “when I first started with the training I
struggled to do 5 minutes on resistance level 1, now I’m up to 20 minutes at
level 6“
The
challenge will last over 6 hours with a couple of breaks scheduled in, Jordan
is hoping that people will pop-in on the day to support him, there will be
cakes provided and also some donation buckets. Jordan is anticipating that
there will be times in the challenge where he will hit “the wall” and
encourages people to come and egg him on during these times to help him through
to completion.
If you can’t
make it on the day but would love to make a donation then you can do so via
Jordan’s Gofundme page
Jordan is
also fundraising for Wigan Warriors Community Foundation and there are links if
you wish to donate to this great organisation across Jordan’s social media
outlets.
Best of luck
to my good friend, Jordan, I’m positive he will smash the challenge and meet
his fundraising targets.
There is an
interview with Jordan on the PWU Podcast AFC Wimbledon Preview
