Latest news with #LindseyBurrow
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rob Burrow would be 'so proud' of Leeds MND centre, says Lindsey
Rob Burrow would be "incredibly proud" of the motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre that bears his name, his widow Lindsey said on the first anniversary of his Leeds Rhinos star Burrow died on 2 June last year aged 41 after being diagnosed with MND in Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease is set to open at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds later this during a visit to the site, Lindsey Burrow said: "Ultimately that's what Rob wanted to do, to help other families." She told the BBC: "To have this centre for us as a family, as somewhere we can come to remember Rob and to be able to share that with other families that are in the same situation that we've been in, is incredibly special.""Rob would be incredibly proud, he was so humbled," Lindsey said."To have this centre, to have the marathon, it's just part of Rob's legacy and the amazing work that he's done for the MND community."He was the face of the MND community in the most difficult of circumstances but to have this, I think it really gives people hope." Burrow's parents Geoff and Irene were at Headingley Stadium - the home of Leeds Rhinos - on Saturday along with his sisters Joanne Hartshorne and Claire Burnett for the club's MND Awareness game against Wakefield Trinity."We have good and bad days - more bad than good at the moment," admitted Geoff."But Rob would want us to keep smiling and banging the drum for MND patients."A minute's applause was held for the former scrum-half and hooker before banners were displayed on the pitch, with one of them bearing his famous words: "In a world full of adversity we must dare to dream." Dr Agam Jung, consultant neurologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and director of the MND service at Leeds, was Burrow's consultant."Rob's legacy is about courage and dignity," she said."It's about changing the trajectory of the most cruel disease in the world and oh my goodness, that is something really special."She said she was "very pleased" with the progress at the site of the MND centre."It's a centre for hope and the MND community draws hope," Dr Jung said. The fundraising effort championed by Burrow and his Leeds Rhinos team-mate Kevin Sinfield raised millions for MND charities following Burrow's raised for the centre will allow researchers to launch projects aimed at reducing the time it takes to diagnose the league coach and Burrow's former team-mate Jamie Jones-Buchanan also paid tribute to the late star to mark the anniversary, saying Burrow's "spirit and what he stood for is very much alive at Leeds Rhinos, and I think it always will be"."Every opportunity we've got to remember Rob and what he brought to the club and gave so many fans, so many tens of thousands of people, will be a part of who we are for many, many years," he said. Sinfield announced last week that he would be running seven ultra marathons in seven days in seven regions to raise money for MND challenge will take place in December and will include marathons in Sheffield and hopes the campaign will raise £777,777."This has become less about running and more about bringing people together," he said. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Couch to 5k - Top tips to get started with running
"You never regret a run," according to Giovanna Fletcher, host of BBC Sport's new Couch to 5K might be hard to get out the door sometimes, but, according to the NHS, external, being active is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. As part of the BBC's Wellbeing Week, which runs from 12 to 18 May, BBC Sport has gathered some of the Couch to 5K Podcast's top tips to start running. How to start running as a beginner Couch to 5K is a great way to get into running, providing a free, beginner-friendly running best way to start is to plan a route, wear comfortable clothing and trainers – and get out there. Of course, it might be hard at first, but it will get easier with says: "I can remember my first run. I only ran for 10 minutes and I felt this burn through my lungs for the majority of the day. My next run, I didn't feel that."Lindsey Burrow – the widow of rugby legend Rob – has used running to support her through grief, completing the London Marathon and the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in April and May 2025."Anyone that starts running, you've got to start somewhere," Burrow says."The first run seems impossible. The second one's not much better. Then something changes."Your lungs get stronger. Your legs get stronger. You just start to build on that courage, that resilience and that bravery." Run with someone If you feel self-conscious running outside or are struggling to get started, organising to run with other people can help."I find it really hard running on my own," says radio DJ and Couch to 5K coach Jo Whiley."I really like running clubs, parkruns and running with a friend. That makes all the difference."You can find a running club near you on the England Athletics website, external and parkrun, external organises 5ks in local parks across the UK every adds that she finds it easier if she can talk to a friend while running: "That's distracting and it stops you thinking about running."It's a really good way of catching up with friends. You don't have to look at each other, so if you're getting something off your chest, it's somehow easier to talk." Just keep going By committing to Couch to 5K, you will get fitter over time, but that does not mean every run will be easy."Every run is different," Whiley says. "There are days when you go out and it's really hard work. Then the next day, it's really easy and you can't quite work out why."On the days when it is tough, Burrow's advice is to "keep putting one foot in front of the other"."Keep going," she adds. "There will be tough times. There are parts of the run where you're thinking, 'This is awful, this is horrendous, how am I going to get through this?'"Then, the elation you get, that endorphin release. You feel so much better in yourself." It does not matter how long it takes you to run 5k Once you start running, it can be easy to compare your running times to it takes you 15 minutes, or an hour and 15 minutes, completing the Couch to 5K programme is a big achievement."So many people say, 'I'm not a runner'," Fletcher says."Years ago I would have said I'm not a runner. Back then a runner was someone who did a 5k in 15 minutes. That's a runner."If I can slowly move my body around and get to 5k, I'm a runner. It doesn't matter how fast, it doesn't matter how long it takes you – you've done it." The best way to start running… is to start running Even the most experienced runners do not want to run sometimes. On those days, focus on the benefits that running will bring."You can just have the headspace," Burrow says. "You don't have to think about the worries of life."You put the music on and go out for a run. I don't know if it's the endorphin release of the run."I come back and I find I have much more patience. It puts me in a better mood for the day. I try to get my runs in early in the morning because I know it's going to set me up for the day."Whiley adds: "On those days when you don't want to go out the door, you will always find an excuse not to run but make yourself do it because you never regret a run."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thousands of runners turn out in Rob Burrow's memory
Thousands of runners have crossed the start line of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - the first to be held since the rugby league star's death. Leeds Rhinos legend Burrow died last June aged 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019. His wife Lindsey and best friend Kevin Sinfield were among those taking part to help raise money for MND. Addressing the crowds, Sinfield said Burrow would be "looking down on us, proud as punch of what we have created here." He said: "Today is about looking after each other. Today is about making sure we get to the finish line. Today is about running for our little mate Rob Burrow." Crowds of runners set off at 09:00 BST for the third annual running of the event with the route passing through Woodhouse Moor, Adel, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley. It was followed an hour later by runners taking part in the half marathon challenge. Paul Green, from Doncaster, was one of thousands of people inspired by the Burrow family's story. The 71-year-old said he was running his first half marathon in memory of his wife who died from MND in 2017. "It has been eight years, but it is still hard," he said. "I am running in memory of Joy. Hopefully she is approving of my lunacy doing it at this age." As well as fundraising for the MND Association, Mr Green volunteers as a "befriender", helping to support people with the disease. Mr Green, whose grandsons were running alongside him, said: "Hopefully together, we will get there and we will do this." Also taking part, Rob Tiffney, said he "knew nothing" about MND before hearing Mr Burrow's story. The 49-year-old is on day 406 of a 500-day challenge to run 5,000 miles. Mr Tiffney said he was hoping to raise £35,000 for the MND Association. "Everyday for 500 days, whatever the weather, I get out and raise as much money and awareness as I can. "Rob definitely influenced others – look at all the people here today." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North 'Running first Leeds Marathon without Rob will be hard' 'Running first Leeds Marathon without Rob will be hard' MND Association Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Thousands come together for Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
Thousands of runners have crossed the start line of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - the first to be held since the rugby league star's death. Leeds Rhino legend Burrow died last June aged 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in wife Lindsey and best friend Kevin Sinfield were among those taking part to help raise money for the crowds, Sinfield said Burrow would be "looking down on us, proud as punch of what we have created here." He said: "Today is about looking after each other. Today is about making sure we get to the finish line. Today is about running for our little mate Rob Burrow."Crowds of runners set off at 09:00 BST for the third annual running of the event with the route passing through Woodhouse Moor, Adel, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and was followed an hour later by runners taking part in the half marathon challenge. Paul Green, from Doncaster, was one of thousands of people inspired by the Burrow family's 71-year-old said he was running his first half marathon in memory of his wife who died from MND in 2017. "It has been eight years, but it is still hard," he said."I am running in memory of Joy. Hopefully she is approving of my lunacy doing it at this age."As well as fundraising for the MND Association, Mr Green volunteers as a "befriender", helping to support people with the on by his grandsons who had come to watch, he said: "Hopefully together, we will get there and we will do this."Also taking part, Rob Tiffney, said he "knew nothing" about MND before hearing Mr Burrow's story. The 49-year-old is on day 406 of a 500-day challenge to run 5,000 Tiffney said he was hoping to raise £35,000 for the MND Association."Everyday for 500 days, whatever the weather, I get out and raise as much money and awareness as I can. "Rob definitely influenced others – look at all the people here today." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Running first Leeds Marathon without Rob will be hard'
Lindsey Burrow has said running this year's Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - the first since her husband's death - would be "physically and mentally hard".Rugby league legend Burrow died last June aged 41 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon was launched in 2022 to honour the former Leeds Rhino star's campaign to fund research into to BBC Radio Leeds, Mrs Burrow said: "I'm going to try and not break Rob's no-tear policy, but I can't promise anything." In April, the mother-of-three completed the London Marathon as part of her continued fundraising for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Leeds Hospitals will take part in the event on Sunday, also raising money for the same causes."It's going to be a challenge physically and emotionally because it's the first one since Rob's passing," the 42-year-old said."It's such a special occasion and it makes me proud to be associated with Leeds."I know how proud Rob was to have the marathon in his name and to continue his legacy is so special to the family." Rob's MND diagnosis came two years after he retired from a17-year career at Leeds Rhinos, during which he made almost 500 appearances and won 13 the help of former team-mate and close friend Kevin Sinfield, they raised more than £15m for MND charities as Rob battled the disease himself. Both men were awarded CBEs in the 2024 New Year Burrow said her reason for running this year was to "make Rob proud" and raise funds to find a cure for MND."I made a promise to Rob to continue his legacy," she said."Rob will be with me every step of the way and the times when it gets tough, I'll think about Rob and I'll think about his bravery and courage and how he fought MND."A bit of sore muscle, a bit of pain and tiredness, I'll recover."People with MND don't have that luxury. So I'm running for Rob and the MND community." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
