Running with the Rhinos for the third time in a row!

Declan Jenkinson is the co-captain of the Leeds Rhinos Learning Disability League, and he’s taking on the Leeds 10K for the third year in a row this year as part of the Run with the Rhinos team. “It’s a great cause and great event. It doesn’t matter who you are, doesn’t matter if you’ve got a disability, it’s about getting out there and doing what’s important to you,” he says. “And with it being a different route as well, I’m always up for a challenge!”

Declan became involved with the Leeds Rhinos when he took part in their Try Club programme, an initiative that helps people lose weight and increase their confidence. The coach asked him to play for the Rhinos and, although he had his doubts at first, “he never gave up and he pestered me again, so I just decided to give it a go.”

Shortly after getting involved, he was asked to be the co-captain. He has held this position for the last five years, his partner Jenny recently became the assistant coach, and they both enjoy taking part in the Rhinos’ various charity events and initiatives. “I feel like I’m strongly connected to the team,” Declan says.

This year, the Run with the Rhinos team is raising money for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease. Rob is a former Leeds Rhinos player, who was diagnosed with the progressive illness in 2019. Helping him is very important to Declan: “He’s one of my inspirations. Even before he was diagnosed, he told me to never give up, and to keep on trying.”

Rob Burrow’s words to Declan helped to strengthen his belief that you can do anything you set your mind to. “Never give up on your dreams, always go the extra mile, you can do whatever you can to achieve your goals – I’ve done that ever since I was 13.” It was at that age when he told his mum he wanted to stop getting pocket money and start earning a living. He got his first job as a paperboy, which was a big independence milestone for him. Since then, his career has taken him to working for Leeds United, and now the NHS.

Declan is quick to credit his partner Jenny with helping him meet his personal, professional and sporting goals. She joined him for the Leeds 10K last year, and as she suffers from a condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), Declan pushed her in her wheelchair. However, as they neared the finish line, she said “I want to see if I can wheel my way to victory,” so she took herself the rest of the way. Declan and Jenny recall the positive experience of all the spectators and their teammates from the Leeds Rhinos cheering them on as they neared the finish – “everybody was really caring and kind and helpful.”

Jenny was taking part in memory of her sister Louise, who passed away from a rare syndrome called Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). As well as supporting the causes of the Leeds Rhinos team, Declan and Jenny wanted to fundraise for the A-T Society and EDS UK. Jenny explains that, as they are both small charities that don’t get much funding, it was very important to her to contribute to these causes.

Although she can’t take part this year due to an injury, Jenny says she really hopes she can take on more Leeds 10K events in the future. In the meantime, she looks forward to cheering on Declan at the finish line on Sunday 3^rd June – she’s even planning to make him a banner!

Thinking about joining Declan at the Leeds 10K? It’s not too late to sign up – click here to secure your spot on the start line.