Nick Thomas, former professional rugby player and co-founder of the charity Sports Ally Movement, is running a series of 100 miles on foot in 24 hours to raise money for motor neurone disease, the same disease that killed his sister Niki earlier this year. Niki was in her 40s and had spent most of her career with the New Zealand rugby team.
The event, called “Walking with the Stars,” is set to take place from Sunday to Monday and start in Fairfax County. Read more on Thomas’s story and official event page.
Another rugby league legend and founding member of the British charity set up in Niki’s name called MND and Love is also running the event. The name is chosen as a nod to rugby league player Les Reed, who suffered the same disease in his life.
The action kicks off at the capital region’s first Graham Bristow Track League soccer game, which will kick off at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Moreland Soccer Complex on Old Georgetown Road.
The event is rain or shine.