Rob Burrow's wife Lindsey shares his final wish, it sums him up

Rugby News
Monday, 03 June 2024 at 13:57
screenshot 2024 06 03 at 145717
Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain rugby league legend Rob Burrow has passed away.
, where he stated that his charity had now raised over £1 million.
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Burrow, aged 41, had been battling motor neurone disease (MND) since his diagnosis in late 2019.
This diagnosis came two years after he retired from a distinguished 17-year career, during which he won eight Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges, and two Challenge Cups.
The Rhinos announced Burrow's death, honoring their former scrum-half and hooker as "a true inspiration throughout his life, both on the rugby league field and during his battle with MND."
The Prince of Wales remarked that Burrow would be remembered as a "legend" with "a huge heart."
Burrow's legacy endures through the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, which is planned for construction at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.
In an interview on BBC Breakfast, Phil Daly, a close friend of Burrow, said: "We will have the groundbreaking today, as per Rob's wishes. We spoke to Lindsey on Friday, and that's what he wanted. We can't waste a day, and Rob wouldn't want us to waste a day, so we start today.
"This is not a reflection of the NHS staff who cared for Rob—they did an excellent job—but the current facilities are inadequate. When you're given that diagnosis in the existing conditions, it makes the situation even more challenging."

Six rugby stars diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease

This is a list of notable people who have or had motor neuron disease, a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders that selectively affect motor neurons, the cells which control voluntary muscles of the body. 

#1. Rob Burrow - England

On 19 December 2019, it was publicly revealed Burrow had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
On 30 December 2020, Burrow was appointed MBE in the 2021 New Years Honours List for his services to Rugby League and the Motor Neurone Disease community.
On 16 March 2021, Burrow was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Sport Science by Leeds Beckett University.
Sadly, he passed away on June 3rd 2024.

#2. Doddie Weir - Scotland

n June 2017, Weir announced that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), the announcement coinciding with global MND Awareness Day. In August, he spoke about plans to set up a foundation named 'My Name's Doddie' in order to "raise funds for research into a cure for MND and to provide grants to people living with the condition". In November, accompanied by his three sons, he walked the match ball on to the pitch at Murrayfield for the Autumn international test match between Scotland and the All Blacks.
A tartan was designed by Weir in collaboration with Berwickshire-based clothes firm ScotlandShop, in a bid to raise cash for his motor neurone disease research charity. The tartan features colours from the teams he played for: black and yellow of Melrose, blue and white of Scotland, and black of the former and white of the latter are also intended as a reference to his seven years with Newcastle Falcons. My Name's Doddie: The Autobiography was published on 25 October 2018 through Black & White Publishing.
On 31 October 2018, Weir appeared on BBC One's The One Show
In January 2020 Weir confirmed his involvement in a clinical trial aimed at finding drugs that could slow, stop or reverse the progression of MND.
On the evening of 26 November 2022, his family announced that he had died of motor neuron disease, aged 52. A memorial service was held at Melrose Parish Church on 19 December, with audio from the service relayed to Melrose RFC's ground The Greenyards.

#3. Ed Slater - England

On 21st July 2022, Slater confirmed he was diagnosed with ALS (motor neurone disease) and retired immediately.

#4. Tinus Linee - South Africa (1969–2014)

In April 2013, Linee was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
His deteriorating health resulted in him having financial difficulties in an attempt to cover his medical costs. This resulted in him auctioning off his Springbok and Western Province blazers to raise money. South African fans have since organised and contributed to several fundraisers to assist him and his family financially. The introduction of a ventilator in April 2014, meant that his condition remained stable without deteriorating. His hands, however, remained virtually paralysed. Linee died on 3 November 2014, aged 45 in his family home in Paarl.
He was survived by his wife Diana, her two sons, and a daughter from his first marriage.

#5. Tu'u Maori - Papa New Guinea (1988–2022)

The Papa New Guinea international died from motor neurone disease at his home in Ipswich, Queensland, on 3 January 2022, at the age of 33.

#6. Joost van der Westhuizan - South Africa (1971–2017)

In 2011, it was announced that van der Westhuizen had motor neurone disease. He eventually began using a wheelchair and experienced speech problems, yet still raised awareness of the disease through his charity, the J9 Foundation.
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