Carried tenderly in his friend and former team-mate’s arms, this is the extraordinary moment Rob Burrow crossed the finish line of the marathon named in his honour.
The 40-year-old ex rugby league player was diagnosed with motor neurone disease four years ago and since then, has tirelessly raised funds and awareness of a condition which has blighted the lives of so many.
Kevin Sinfield, his long term friend and fellow player at Leeds Rhinos, has been a constant presence at his side and has raised more than £8 million for MND charities.
Today the 42-year-old pushed Burrow around the course in a specially-adapted wheelchair. But as they approached the end, Sinfield lifted his friend into his arms and carried him across the finish line, dropping his head to kiss him gently on the neck.
Burrow had received the news of his cruel diagnosis just two years after ending his playing career, and has openly spoken about his battle with the condition, which targets the nervous system and progressively worsens as time goes on.
Many people live with it for years, but its symptoms engulf much of the body – leaving sufferers barely able to speak, or move.
As detailed by the Motor Neurone Association, Burrow is quoted as poignantly saying: “First it comes for your voice. Then it takes your legs. It tries to rob you of your breath. But it can’t sap your spirit.”
Speaking before the race, Sinfield had said the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is as much “a celebration of friendship” as it is a vital charity fundraiser.
Today’s event, plus the Leeds Half Marathon which will also took place this afternoon, is being held by Leeds City Council in partnership with Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All charity. It has already surpassed the £1m mark.
“We get the chance to do it together with 12,500 people and hopefully people will come out and see us and say hello out on the streets supporting. I think it’s a wonderful thing for Leeds.
“The Council have been fantastic, Run For All have been brilliant and I’m sure it will be an incredible day on Sunday.”
“I’ve always ran in a team with the challenges that I’ve done, this is just a bigger team this time, so the money and the awareness we can raise for a whole host of different charities will be brilliant,” Sinfield, now on the England rugby union coach staff, said.
“To have 12,500 people running in Rob’s name, all for different charities and causes, I think is wonderful and I know how proud Rob is of it and we’ll have a good day on Sunday.”
Burrow’s wife Lindsey was pictured running her first full marathon, despite carrying a knee injury.
She said before embarking on the 26 mile circuit: “We’re unbelievably proud and we just want to say a massive thank you to all the amazing runners and everyone who has supported Rob and to the crowd who support on the day as well.
“They will play a massive part of getting the runners through the event, so it’s a huge heart-felt thank you to them and we hope they enjoy the occasion.”
Sinfield and Burrow were joined by former Rhinos team-mates, including Gary Mercer, Barrie McDermott, Matt Diskin, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Luke Burgess, plus triathlete Jonny Brownlee and boxer Josh Warrington along various parts of the route.
The marathon aims to drive awareness and funds for the Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND here in Leeds, as well as the MND Association.
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