Leeds Rhinos fan's epic fundraising walk inspired by Rob Burrow's MND battle

Teenage Leeds Rhinos fan Holly Beaumont put her best foot forward for an epic fundraising walking challenge during the coronavirus lockdown.
Holly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn DoddHolly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn Dodd
Holly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn Dodd

Holly, a keen walker, completed the 15th and final leg of her epic walking challenge on Bank Holiday Monday (Aug 31) having visited 34 football and rugby stadiums across Yorkshire.

Holly, 17, has raised £1,500 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association after being inspired by one of her Rhinos heroes Rob Burrow and his own battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

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The various routes completed over the summer have taken in each football stadium played at by all the Yorkshire teams in the top eight flights of English football, plus each of the Rugby League stadiums played at by Yorkshire teams in the top three divisions.

Holly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn DoddHolly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn Dodd
Holly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn Dodd

As Holly crossed the finish line at Emerald Headingley Stadium she received another boost having reached her sponsorship target of £1,500 on Bank Holiday Monday, the final day of her challenge.

Holly said: “Rob Burrow was one of my favourite players growing up and I wanted to do something to show my support for him and everyone who is battling MND.

"I suggested to my dad that we should walk from Elland Road to Headingley and the idea just took off from there.

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"We have had some horrible days with the weather, that even forced us to stop a couple of times, but we’ve started back up once the weather has improved and it is great to have completed the challenge now, especially as we reached the fundraising target too.”

Holly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn DoddHolly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn Dodd
Holly Beaumont at Emerald Headingley after completing her summer long fundraising effort with Ronnie the Rhino and MNDA Regional Fundraiser Jenn Dodd

Jenn Dodd, Regional Fundraiser for Yorkshire, Humberside and the North East for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: “This is an incredible achievement by Holly and we are very proud of her.

"She has spoken about how Rob Burrow has inspired her. Rob has done a remarkable job in increasing the profile of Motor Neurone Disease both locally but also nationally as well.

"He has inspired so many people like Holly to get involved in fundraising and we are so grateful to everyone who has got involved in raising awareness and fundraising.”

To find out more about the Motor Neurone Disease Association visit their website or to sponsor Holly, you can visit her own page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Holly-Beaumont

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