Son's tribute to father who died four months after MND diagnosis
Family photographThe son of a well-known Lancashire hairdresser who died four months after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is to run the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in his dad's memory next month.
David Thomas, who ran hair salons across Lancashire for four decades, died on 10 April after being told in December that he had MND.
His son Matt Thomas said he wanted to "do something for him" as well as raise cash for MND, so signed up for the marathon named after the rugby league star.
Matt said David was "so proud" of him for doing the race, and he "really felt the love" from all the donations coming in.
Family photographLeeds Rhinos legend Burrow died in 2024, aged 41, after being diagnosed with MND in 2019.
The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon was launched in 2023 to honour the star's campaign to fund research into MND.
The emotional moment that year when Kevin Sinfield stopped short of the finish to carry his best friend over the line went down in sporting history.
Matt, from Rufford, told BBC Radio Lancashire why he pledged to take part in this year's marathon along with more than 10,000 other runners.
"When dad got the diagnosis, it only felt right that... this is my opportunity now to do something for him and the [MND] Association."
He said the money would "go towards supporting patients with the disease but also going to vital research to hopefully find a cure for it".
"It's going to be sad that he's not going to be there on the day, obviously, but I know [my dad] wants me to run it."
Matt said he would most miss "going for a beer" with his father.
He said David, who leaves behind wife Paula, their four children Emma, Lucy, Harry and Matt, as well as three grandchildren, Sebastian, George and Tommy, was a "bubbly character" who was always positive and the "life and soul" of the party.
"He always made you feel 10 feet tall. He was super encouraging of my life, my career, whether I wanted to move to Bristol or New York.
He added: "He really made you believe in yourself and very, very lucky to have had a dad like him."
Matt said the family had been "shocked in a nice way" at the outpouring of love for his father since his death.
"Seeing the messages... over how he has shaped not only people's careers but their lives and the impact he has had on them has been really nice."
He said reading through them "has been therapy" and made them feel "extremely proud".
MND causes muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years and is usually life-shortening, according to the NHS.
The NHS says there is currently no cure but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
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