Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham raises more than £10k for Rob Burrow

Drew Darbyshire

Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham raised more than £10,000 for Rob Burrow by completing the Great North Run last weekend.

Burnham wanted to raise funds for the Leeds Hospitals Charity, who are currently planning on building a motor neurone disease centre in Leeds in the Burrow’s name.

Burrow has spearheaded a number of fundraising efforts for MND since being diagnosed with the disease in late 2019.

READ: Rob Burrow backs £5m charity appeal to build MND centre in Leeds

The Rhinos legend is now supporting the creation of a centre of equal standards that will benefit more people living with the disease in and around Leeds.

On his Great North Run fundraising efforts, Burnham said: “Rob was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in December 2019 and has faced up to this challenge in the same courageous and classy way that he played his rugby league for Leeds. He has dedicated himself to helping others.

“When his former team-mate, the legendary Kevin Sinfield OBE, decided to run seven marathons in seven days, through rain, snow and wind in the depths of last winter, it spoke volumes about Rob. You just knew that only a truly exceptional person could inspire this level of loyalty and commitment.

“Kevin raised a huge amount of money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and, whilst I can’t come close to his efforts, I am using the race to help get a new fundraising campaign going – for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.

“I am running the race alongside Rob’s amazing wife Lindsey and we would both be hugely grateful for any help you can give us.

“The overall fundraising target for the centre is £5million. Together we can build a down-payment on this and help families struggling with the effects of this terrible disease.”

To make a donation to Burnham’s fundraising efforts for Burrow, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-burnham-1

Burrow made almost 500 appearances for Leeds during his illustrious playing career as well as winning 20 caps in total for Great Britain and England.