Leeds Rhinos release response to latest update on government’s MND funding

There was big news for the Motor Neurone Disease community this morning and Leeds Rhinos have responded.

For a long time Leeds Rhinos legends Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield have been putting pressure on the government to release the £50 million they promised in the fight against MND.

Burrow was diagnosed with MND in December 2019 and since then Sinfield has raised over £6 million in the fight against it.

He ran seven marathons in seven days in 2020, 101 miles in one day in 2021 and recently ran seven ultramarathons in seven days.

But still the government funding wasn’t coming with people dying of MND daily including Burrow’s good friend Doddie Weir.

However, the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has confirmed that he will set out plans to release the funding.

He said on Twitter: “I will set out our plans to cut red tape and accelerate the allocation of £50 million in funding for MND research, to make breakthroughs in finding a cure and improving treatments.”

Tomorrow I will set out our plans to cut red tape and accelerate the allocation of £50 million in funding for MND research, to make breakthroughs in finding a cure and improving treatments.
 
Read more @Daily_Express👇 https://t.co/CcG1DCartB

— Steve Barclay (@SteveBarclay) December 11, 2022

Meanwhile, he said to the Daily Express: “We must do all we can to support these projects – which include understanding how different types of MND are passed on genetically and even unlocking new treatment options for patients using gene therapy.”

Following this, Leeds Rhinos released the following statement in response to this “great news”:

“Great news for the MND community giving them hope that finally the vital research needed to find a cure can receive the priority it need.

“Congratulations to the United2EndMND campaign for keeping the pressure on, well done to Steve Barclay for keeping the promise made in 2021.”