Rob Burrow is one of Super League’s greatest and most iconic players, the man of such small stature ducking under and in between tackles attempted by men up to a foot taller than him, that try for Leeds Rhinos against St Helens being one that will live long in the memory.
Whilst Burrow had an immense impact on the field, he’s now having arguably an even bigger and more important one off the field as he campaigns and raises awareness about Motor Neurone Disease.
MND is a condition that attacks the nervous system and one that is as yet uncurable, or as Burrow’s inspiration and former MND battler Doddie Weir explained: ‘MND is not uncurable, just underfunded’.
Doddie sadly passed away from the condition late last year but he was paramount in inspiring fight in Rob, who announced his diagnosis on BBC News in December 2020.
Since then there have been mammoth fundraising efforts undertaken by Burrow and those close to him to raise funds and the profile of MND so it can get the much deserved and needing funding.
Part of the process has seen the Burrow family open their doors up to BBC documentary cameras to offer an insight into life with MND, one such example of this was the documentary titled ‘Rob Burrow: Living with MND’.
It was an emotional watch but one that went beyond just the person suffering with the condition, but accounted for the family and the wider community as well, and deservedly so it was nominated for an National Television Award.
The NTA ceremony was last night and Burrow’s documentary sadly lost out to Lewis Capaldi’s self titled doc, ‘Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now’.
Whilst it’s a blow for Burrow and those who worked hard on the documentary to not win, those involved have since reacted with an ever positive attitude – one that sums up Rob best.
Rob Burrow: #LivingWithMND may not have won this evening but the awareness it has raised of motor neurone disease has been incredible.
Thank you to our patron @Rob7Burrow, the Burrow family, and the @BBCBreakfast team.
Big congrats to @LewisCapaldi 👏 #NTAs #MND pic.twitter.com/fVaAx0oTH0
— MND Association (@mndassoc) September 5, 2023
The MND Association were quick to express thanks for the awareness raised courtesy of Burrow, his family and the BBC Breakfast team.
There’s only one Rob Burrow ❤️ https://t.co/2aHhNBhBEn
— Sally Nugent (@sallynugent) September 5, 2023
Meanwhile Sally Nugent, one of those BBC Breakfast team members who has been involved had a simple message.
Thank you MNDA for your kind message 👍and ongoing support.
No Rob didn’t win tonight but TOGETHER we WILL win,beat MND – we can, we Will, I can, I will 👊 https://t.co/qtX5PWnSwG
— Geoff Burrow (@burrow_geoff) September 5, 2023
Rob’s Dad, Geoff, had another message of inspiration and hope as well as thanks.
For more information about MND, you can click the link here.
