The family of late rugby league great Rob Burrow said “his strength is keeping us going” as they attended an emotional groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for the motor neurone disease (MND) centre bearing his name, a day after his death.
The former Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain star died at the age of 41 on Sunday, more than four years after being diagnosed with the incurable degenerative disease.
Prince William and former teammate Kevin Sinfield led the tributes to the diminutive scrum-half, who won eight Super League Grand Finals and three World Club Challenges during a stellar career.
Well-wishers gathered outside Headingley Stadium in Leeds on Monday to pay their respects, laying flowers, scarves and other tributes.
The groundbreaking of the Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds went ahead as planned at Burrow’s request, with his family saying he “would be looking down and smiling”.
Close friend Sinfield, who alongside Burrow raised millions of pounds for MND charities, attended the ceremony, along with Burrow’s parents Geoff and Irene Burrow, and his sisters.
Geoff Burrow wiped away a tear as a minute’s silence was held in his son’s memory, before being one of six people to put the first spades in the ground on the site.
Irene Burrow said: “This is what Rob would want and I think he’d be proud that we all pulled ourselves together and got the strength to come, and we’re doing it for Lindsey (Burrow’s wife) and the kids.
“He’ll be looking down on us and he’ll be going ‘thumbs up’. We’re so proud to be here and it’s amazing what you can achieve.”
Geoff Burrow said the family would carry on with his son’s work and spoke of his hope that a cure for the disease would be found.
“I wish we’d have got it before he passed, but we will get it, for him and all the poor families suffering with MND,” he said.
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