Rob Burrow’s death: Opening ceremony for motor neurone disease center is what he would have wanted, family says | UK news

The new £6 million Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to support the needs of people with MND.

Rob Burrow’s family have told Sky News a ceremony to break ground for a center named after him is “what they would have wanted” despite his death the day before.

Former rugby league player and charity fundraiser he died on Sunday at the age of 41 after a four and a half year battle with an incurable disease.

The new £6 million Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to support the needs of people with MND (Motor Neurone Disease).

His family said the former Leeds Rhinos star wished they were there as building work began on the site on Monday.

His mother Irene said: “He will be so proud that we pulled together and managed to get here. We have to do it for Rob, (his wife) Lindsey and the kids, and everybody. The MND community.

“And be strong and keep smiling because that’s what Rob was – he smiled every day. We are so proud of him.”

She added: “We just want to find a cure and if we keep raising money we will get there. And Rob will support because that’s what he wanted.”

Rob Burrow’s sister Joanne Hartshorn told Sky News: “We’ve been wanting this day for a while. It is an important day. It’s unfortunate that it’s the day after Rob’s death, but I spoke to Rob and said if we wanted to go ahead today and it was an absolute yes, that’s what Rob would have wanted.”

“Rob will be looking down and I hope he’s proud,” she added.

His other sister, Claire Burnett, wept as she said: ‘We are overwhelmed by it all. I’ve never seen so much love.”

And his dad Geoff was also emotional as he said: “It means everything to break ground, more than words can say. People say things happen for a reason. If their reason is a cure, bless you Rob”.

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Before his death, Burrow led a £6.8 million appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a center for those with MND living in and around the city.

Since his death was announced on Sunday night, the appeal has received around 1,000 donations.

Geoff Burrow said the family would continue his son’s work and spoke of his hope that a cure for the disease would be found.

“I wish he had gotten it before he died, but we will, for him and all the poor families suffering from MND.

“He’ll be smiling, thinking, ‘Control him dad, make sure he keeps digging.’

Burrow and his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Kevin Sinfield have together raised millions of pounds for charity to raise awareness and fund research into MND.

In January, the Prince of Wales presented the pair with CBE in recognition of their “phenomenal” fundraising efforts.

Sinfield, who also attended Monday’s ceremony, said his friend was “superman, superman” and that his death would leave a “massive hole”, adding that it was important he “lives on forever”.

Fighting back tears, Sinfield said: “I wish I could have seen the outpouring of love.

“I think we all lose special people, but it’s very, very rare to lose someone who is so special to so many different people.”

He added: “As you can see, it’s still pretty raw.

“It will leave a huge hole and I know there will be many people who are heartbroken this morning at yesterday’s news.”

Meanwhile, well-wishers gathered outside Yorkshire’s Headingley Stadium, home of his team Leeds Rhinos, on Monday morning to pay their respects, laying flowers, scarves and other tributes.