Kevin Sinfield had to fight back tears while speaking about Rob Burrow for the first time since he passed away on Sunday.
Leeds Rhinos announced on Sunday that Burrow had died aged 41. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease four and a half years ago and has spent that time tirelessly campaigning and fundraising with the help of Sinfield and some of his other former Leeds team-mates.
On Monday morning, Sinfield joined Burrow’s family and other people who have joined
the fight against MND at the site of what will become the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds. The group attended an emotional groundbreaking ceremony for the £6m centre and afterwards Sinfield spoke to BBC Breakfast about Burrow’s legacy.
“So brave, so tough,” he said of Burrow. “I wish he could have seen the outpouring of love. I think we all lose special people, but it’s very, very rare you lose someone so special to so many different people.
“As you can see, it’s still rather raw. He will leave a huge void, and I’m sure many people will be devastated today. He cared about everyone, even though a lot of the MND community will be devastated this morning.
“What matters most, though, is that Rob Burrow lives on forever, and that everyone who has ever supported us—including our team, the MND community, and you—will make sure that Rob’s name is at the center of everything we do moving forward.I was astounded by some of the things he accomplished on the rugby field during the past four and a half years, but to witness some of the things in the last four
“The respect and love and admiration I’ve got for him couldn’t be higher. The inspiration he’s given everyone in the United Kingdom who has been across this story, it will live in the memories forever.”
Burrow fought his MND to his final day and has helped raise around £15m for charitable causes alongside Sinfield. On Monday, their hard work was realised at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.
Rob’s mother, Irene told BBC Breakfast: “He was asked, we were all there and Rob used his eyes to say yes. There was no hesitation whatsoever, he wants it to go ahead today.
“It is best if they can finish this as quickly as possible. Giving terrible news to people will make the life of the professional staff there, in addition to the families, much simpler.
We’ve pulled ourselves together because that’s what Rob would have wanted, and he’ll be watching today. It’s incredible to be here for Rob today. We shall receive a cure because we are raising the flag and beating the drum.”He’ll be up there, looking down and saying, ‘Shut up mother!'” his father Geoff continued. But to have a care facility bearing his name, and not only that, but to achieve a breakthrough for those suffering from motor neuron disease (MND) so that it’s no longer the worst place on earth, but rather a bright future for them, we’ll make
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