22 December 2022 News

Rob and Lindsey at sports personality of the year awards

MND Association patrons Rob Burrow MBE and his former Leeds Rhinos team mate Kevin Sinfield OBE were recognised at this year’s BBC1 Sports Personality of the Year ceremony for their incredible endeavours on behalf of the MND community.

Rob, who has been living with motor neurone disease for three years, was presented with the Helen Rollason award which recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. He was honoured with the award in recognition of his tireless awareness raising for MND. His moment on stage was made all the more poignant as it follows just weeks after the death of Rob’s friend, fellow rugby player and former recipient of the award Doddie Weir.

During Rob’s presentation, fellow rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield was given a Special Award acknowledging his epic fundraising on behalf of MND charities, including the MND Association. His trilogy of challenges, all configured around Rob’s playing number 7, have coincidentally raised more than £7 million. Most recently, at the end of November, he ran seven ultra marathons covering the distance from Murrayfield in Edinburgh to Old Trafford in Manchester in just seven days.

We could not be more proud to have watched our patrons Rob and Kev on the stage at such a prestigious awards ceremony, once again waving the flag for all in the MND community.

“Their fundraising and awareness raising efforts have been truly astounding. By choosing to share their stories so publicly, they have raised MND in the public conscience and helped the thousands of others living with this brutal disease right now to be recognised.

“And through their fundraising they have given hope to the community that, with continued investment in vital research, treatments and a cure will be found.

“The awards presented at Sports Personality of the Year are richly deserved.

Chris James, The MND Association’s Director of External Affairs