Rob Burrow’s heart warming acceptance speech for fantastic award

The documentary following the life of Rugby League legend Rob Burrow MBE, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in December 2019 aired at the end of last year during the World Cup.

Called ‘Rob Burrow: Living with MND’, the half hour documentary follows the award-winning documentary called ‘Rob Burrow: My year with MND’ and now the same team behind that documentary take an intimate look at his life now.

Since he was diagnosed, Burrow has defied the odds, becoming an ambassador for all those impacted by the disease, while inspiring vital fundraising with the love and support of Rob’s family, friends and the wider Rugby League community.

The documentary shows how the disease impacts his wife, Lindsey, their three young children Macy (10), Maya (7), and Jackson (3), his parents Geoff and Irene, as well as former teammate at Leeds Rhinos, Kevin Sinfield OBE, who has raised millions for MND research.

Rob is shown at some of his most intimate and vulnerable moments in this story of courage and never giving up, with those around him also showing incredible strength and bravery.

Unsurprisingly after what was a moving insight into his and his family’s battle, the documentary has won an award at tonight’s Sports Journalism Awards.

It was crowned Television Documentary of the Year last night.

You continue to inspire us every single day @Rob7Burrow. Television Documentary of the Year tonight went to @BBCBreakfast's Rob Burrow: Living With MND programme. Keep on smiling Rob!💙💛 #SJA2022 pic.twitter.com/934flPIZ31

— Sports Journalists (@SportSJA) March 6, 2023

Afterwards, Sally Nugent of BBC would describe the documentary as a love story: “I know this is meant to be a sport documentary but it’s a love story. Rob, Lindsey, Geoff, Irene and the kids could teach us all a thing or two about how to live. It is an honour for all of us to work with them and Rob, who would never ever plan on losing, has recorded a special message just in case he won.”

Meanwhile, Burrow made the following statement: “I’m so honoured to have won the documentary of the year award, I am just wanting to raise awareness of a disease and really enthuse a reaction to the government. I would like to thank all my family for letting their doors open to show the devastation of this horrible disease. I am so grateful to the public who took to my family’s story and I hope that MND is on the map now. I am accepting this on behalf of those who are alone with MND and who are struggling with MND and have little help. Thank you, it means the world.”