Rob Burrow's dad furious as thieves hit MND centre built in memory of rugby icon
Geoff Burrow has hit out at thieves who targeted a new 'world class' centre being built in memory of his son, Rob, the Leeds Rhinos legend who bravely fought MND
The dad of rugby league legend Rob Burrow has said it "beggars belief" that people could steal from the new motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre being built in his son's name. Geoff Burrow said Rob "just wanted to help people" and "would be looking down cursing" the thieves who targeted the Leeds site last week.
Rob's dad has told of his pride the 'amazing' centre was being built and thanked the public for raising money for the 'absolutely world class facility'. The new Rob Burrow MND centre is under construction and is expected to open later this year in memory of Rob who died in June 2024.
A massive £6.8million was fundraised to create the flagship centre to care for MND patients in honour of Rob Burrow who had the disease.
West Yorkshire Police said the force was investigating a theft including some copper on Wednesday and an attempted theft on Friday night.
Extra security has now been put in place at the Seacroft construction site.
The NHS trust which runs the site at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds said it was "really disappointed" in the incidents which caused damage to the facility, named after the Leeds Rhinos legend who died in 2024.
Craige Richardson, Director of Estates and Facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: "We are working with West Yorkshire Police, and we have also put in place extra security measures at the site.
"We will always take positive action against criminal activity at our hospitals, including prosecution.
"The new state-of-the-art Centre will provide a calm and peaceful environment for patients living with MND and their families. We remain on track to open in summer 2025."
Police said they were called to the site at 11:37pm on Friday night to reports of an ongoing burglary. When officers arrived and searched the site they found a rucksack and tools which were seized.
Construction work started in June shortly after the former player's death aged 41 and is due to be completed this summer.
Geoff Burrow said the family thought it was a "prank" when they were told of the theft after they made a site visit on Friday.
"It shows how low and desperate people are to make money," he said. "Rob wanted to help people, he was such a lovely person. He'd be looking down cursing them. For someone to do that beggars belief."
Leeds Hospital Charity's CEO Esther Wakeman said the new facility had been a "real community effort" with 17,000 people donating or fundraising for the development. She said the crimes were "unbelievable".
"It's so disheartening," she told the BBC. "We know how hard our supporters have worked and Rob Burrow's family have committed their time and energy to raising the money for this centre."
Ms Wakeman said specialised facilities for MND patients and their families would make "such a difference" and supporters would be "unbelievably devastated" to think that somebody could try to steal from the new building.
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