Leeds Rhinos ace teams up with ex-Featherstone Rovers and Warrington Wolves star for charity run

Leeds Rhinos hooker Brad Dwyer and former Featherstone Rovers player Jack Johnson are running a half-marathon on Friday, June 12, to raise money for the Stroke Association.
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Dwyer, along with several past and present Warrington Wolves players, has signed up to help former teammate Johnson who was a member of Rovers’ Betfred Championship Grand Final side last year.

His father is recovering after suffering a stroke earlier this month and Dwyer, who played for Warrington before joining Rhinos, said: “There’s quite a few have signed up for it, there’s me, Josh Charnley, Tommy Lineham, Jack himself, Dec Patton and Blake Austin.

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“We’ll see how it goes, it is a half-marathon and we are going to set off in groups of four, every 10 minutes, from around midday.”

Brad Dwyer breaks a tackle in Leeds Rhinos' win over Toronto Wolfpack three months ago. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.Brad Dwyer breaks a tackle in Leeds Rhinos' win over Toronto Wolfpack three months ago. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Brad Dwyer breaks a tackle in Leeds Rhinos' win over Toronto Wolfpack three months ago. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

The socially-distanced run will take place in Warrington and training for it began just days ago.

Dwyer added: “A lot of the boys who are doing it still play there and there’s the likes of me and Kev Brown who don’t play there any more have said we’ll do it as well.

“We want to try and raise as much awareness as we can.”

As of Thursday afternoon, contributions had reached £2,900 - just £100 short of the initial target.

Jack Johnson playing for Warrington at Castleford Tigers last season. Picture by Chris Mangnall/SWpix.com.Jack Johnson playing for Warrington at Castleford Tigers last season. Picture by Chris Mangnall/SWpix.com.
Jack Johnson playing for Warrington at Castleford Tigers last season. Picture by Chris Mangnall/SWpix.com.
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On his Just Giving page, Johnson - who played nine times for Rovers last season and is now at Widnes Vikings - explained: “On Monday, June 1, my dad suffered a mini-stroke.

“Luckily he is doing really well and set to make a full recovery.

“However my step-grandfather also had a stroke before he passed away which left one side of his body completely paralysed.

“We know how much strokes can affect families so want to raise awareness and money for this worthy cause.

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“It has affected a lot of the lads running this challenge in some way so this is why it means a lot to us all.”

Johnson, a winger or full-back, added: “We will also be running this cross country half marathon in memory of Dec Patton’s grandma Linda who tragically passed away after suffering a stroke last week.

“She was a lovely lady loved by all.”

Anyone wanting to donate can do so via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jackjohnson1996.

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