Former Leeds Rhino rugby star Rob Burrow, whose life has been devastated by motor neurone disease. Check out his documentary bbc 2.
Rob Burrow : Documentary bbc 2 | illness | Marathon
Robert Geoffrey Burrow MBE is an English former professional rugby league footballer.
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Personal information
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| Full name | Robert Geoffrey Burrow |
| Born | 26 September 1982 Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England |
An England and Great Britain representative, he spent his entire 16-year professional career with Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, making over 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017.
At 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) tall and weighing less than 11 st (70 kg; 150 lb), Burrow was known for many years as “the smallest player in Super League”.
Despite this, he was one of the most successful players in the competition’s history, winning eight Super League championships, two Challenge Cups, being named to the Super League Dream Team on three occasions and winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy twice.
Rob Burrow documentary bbc 2
Former Leeds Rhino rugby star Rob Burrow, whose life has been devastated by motor neurone disease, says living with the degenerative disease is like being ‘a prisoner in your own body’.
Father-of-three Rob, 40, who was diagnosed in December 2019 – when doctors warned he may only have two years to live, will share an intimate glimpse into how his family cope with the disease that will kill him prematurely in a new BBC2 documentary released next month.
Rob Burrow: Living With MND sees the former Leeds Rhinos player and campaigner revealing how he and his wife and teenage sweetheart Lindsey cope with his illness, along with his children Macy, 10, Maya, seven and Jackson, three.
In one intimate scene, Lindsey is shown carrying her husband up the stairs at night – but viewers will also see cheekier moments from Rob – for example when he tells his mother Irene she ‘has a gob on her’.
Another emotive scene sees the couple in a swimming pool together, as she glides her husband around the pool.
During the documentary, Rob says: ‘I’m a prisoner in my own body, that’s the way MND gets you, the lights are on, but no one’s home. I think like you, but my mind doesn’t work right. I can’t move my body.’
Illness
The former Leeds and Great Britain player, 39, has become a leading light in the campaign to raise awareness of MND, having been diagnosed with the terminal illness in December 2019.
Rob Burrow says the government has “blood on its hands” over the delay in delivering on a promise to provide £50m towards efforts to find a cure for motor neurone disease.
The former Leeds and Great Britain player, 39, has become a leading light in the campaign to raise awareness of MND, having been diagnosed with the terminal illness in December 2019.
The government pledged last November to invest £50m into MND research as part of a £375m investment into neurodegenerative disease research but, eight months on, scientists have yet to see the money, leaving Burrow frustrated and angry.
“I have 100 things to say to this government but I will keep it to one,” Burrow told the PA news agency. “People with MND don’t have the luxury of time to wait. It is as if there is no rush to give our scientific researchers the opportunity to join the race to find an effective treatment while six people die each day from motor neurone disease.
But “There is blood on your hands, this government and the civil servants, with the red tape you are putting up.”
Marathon
The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will see 7,777 participants take on a brand new route through Leeds that starts and finishes at Headingley Stadium.
Also Taking in some of Leeds’ most scenic countryside and outer suburbs, the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will be a fitting tribute to the city that launched Rob’s career and which he calls home.
This is an event that truly is for everyone, so whether you are an experienced runner or have never thought about running an event before, we welcome all abilities to join us in 2023 for this very special event.
The event will be held in support of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal as well as the MND Association.
However, we recognise that many participants will have their own reasons for taking part. As such, entrants are encouraged to raise money for a charity of their choice, or for one of our partner charities.