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Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow fumes at government following painful MND wait

Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow was thrust into the public eye unexpectedly in November 2019 when he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Since then, Burrow has been on a determined path to raise as much money and awareness as possible for research into the disease.

And, the former diminutive number seven, was promised a £50 million grant by the government in a bid to further research, but that has not yet been forthcoming.

For Burrow, the government is 100% in the wrong.

“I have 100 things to say to this government but I will keep it to one,” Burrow told the Independent.

“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.

“There is blood on your hands, this government and the civil servants, with the red tape you are putting up.”

Rob’s full-time career and life partner Lindsay, echoes those thoughts: “I am hopeful that one day a cure will be found but we need the UK government to support people with MND and provide more funding for research into the disease.

“In September 2021, the Prime Minister and Health Secretary pledged £50m for research but no money has been received by the MND researchers yet.

“A third of people with MND die within a year of diagnosis and don’t have time to wait.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told PA: “We have invested millions of pounds into motor neurone disease research – leading to major advances in how the disease is understood.

For example the funding has supported clinical trials of a repurposed drug, Triumeq, which has shown promise at reducing a type of virus in the brain thought to kill motor neurons.

“We remain committed to spending at least another £50million to help find a cure and researchers can apply for funding at the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation.”

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