"I've had the best 502 days": Rob Tiffney has finished his 5000-mile journey for MND Heroes

22 August 2025 5

Rob Tiffney included a number of races as part of his 5000 mile challenge (Picture: MND Association)

On the 21st August, Rob Tiffney from Sandiacre completed his remarkable 5,000-mile challenge, raising awareness of motor neurone disease and inspiring support across the community.

The 77-mile journey that lasted for 2 days was the conclusion of the 500-day challenge. Rob and his group started the last journey from The Bulls Head in Breaston to Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

Rob Tiffney shared his thoughts after ending the journey, “I woke up and I just couldn't stop crying. I've been reading messages and looking at pictures, and it's all the emotions that have been coming out over the last few days.”

People and businesses were supporting the journey along the way. “Local businesses were putting money in the bucket through the windows of businesses, and people coming out of the shops, and we were having photographs on the high street. So we got a really good reception in Ilkeston. And then we headed towards Heanor. Tesco Long Eaton had arranged for the Heanor store to give us icepops.”

As it was a long journey, the final miles through the end of the route were done by only 5 members of the group, “As People had admitted they'd done enough. They'd gotten me to a certain point, but I ended up the final few miles with a group of five of us.”

They reached Headingley Stadium in Leeds yesterday, around 6.40 in the evening, and they attended a rugby match, Leeds Rhinos versus Hull Kingston Rovers.

Rob and his group of supporting walkers were invited onto the pitch at Headingley Rugby Stadium at half-time during Thursday evening's Leeds Rhinos game

“At half-time, they invited the whole team that had walked with me onto the pitch … and they also put me on the big screen. And as we walked off, the crowd was just cheering us and clapping us,” said Rob.

Rob’s fundraiser is hosted on his JustGiving page, starting with £42,800 and ending the journey reaching £46,000, and they are getting closer to their target of £50,000. For those wishing to support his efforts, donations can be made quickly and securely through his JustGiving page, with all funds going directly to the MND Association.