Rob Burrow to receive MBE for services to rugby league and Motor Neurone Disease
Kevin Sinfield, with Rob Burrow, at Headingley Stadum after completing the Extra Mile Challenge from Leicester to Leeds
Rob Burrow is to receive an MBE at Windsor Castle today for his services to rugby league and Motor Neurone Disease.
Burrow, 39, enjoyed a 16-year career at Leeds, scoring 194 tries in 487 Super League appearances.
He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019, and has worked towards raising funds and awareness of the condition ever since.
Burrow was made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list. Former team-mate and fundraising partner Kevin Sinfield was presented an OBE by the Duke of Cambridge during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle earlier this year.
Sinfield, 41, helped raise more than £2million from a gruelling 101-mile run from the home of rugby union’s Leicester Tigers, where he is currently defence coach, to Headingley in November – the equivalent of almost four marathons, completed without sleep inside 24 hours.
The two-time Harry Sunderland Trophy winner was previously awarded an MBE in the Birthday Honours List back in 2014.
Royal honours come alongside Burrow’s charity work, raising nearly £2m through Burrow’s Centre for MND Appeal in just seven months.
Congratulations from everyone at the MND Association to our patron, @Rob7Burrow, who today collects his MBE at a special ceremony at Windsor Castle.
It’s for services to rugby league @TheRFL and for raising awareness of motor neurone disease. pic.twitter.com/HybpzzeGvM
— MND Association (@mndassoc) April 5, 2022
Rob Burrow honoured to receive MBE
Burrow said: “I’m shocked to be accepting the MBE award. It is not something I would imagine I would have achieved during my career. But I’m absolutely honoured to receive this award.
“It is a great occasion for my family as well. Any excuse to see my wife get dressed up. She deserves to get it for the wonderful support she gives me and our family. I hope that she enjoys the occasion like me.
“I’ve always got a kick out of giving close ones an experience like no other. It gives Lindsey an escapism from her normal day to day management of looking after me.
“I’m so proud to receive this because of my rugby and the awareness for MND. This most importantly means that MND continues to be talked about and it remains in the public eye. I’m blown away by the response my diagnosis has had and I hope that the MND community know that it is all for them.”