Prince hails all who have made centre for MND a reality

THE Prince of Wales told the children of the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow they should be “so proud of your father because he really was an incredibly brave and very special man” as he opened a motor neurone disease (MND) centre.

- By DAVE HIGGENS

OPENING: The centre is dedicated to MND care and research PA

Prince William met Burrow's three children, his wife Lindsey and his inspirational fundraising teammate, former Leicester Tigers coach Kevin Sinfield, as he opened the first purpose-built centre dedicated entirely to MND care, research and support - fulfilling a promise he made to him before he died last year.

The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) was the dream of the Leeds Rhinos star and his consultant Dr Agam Jung.

Prince William made Burrow a CBE in January 2024, along with Sinfield, and the father-of-three asked the Prince then if he would open the centre when it was built.

Burrow died five months later, at the age of 41, following a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND during which he devoted himself to raising awareness and money for treatment and research.

The links to Leicester Tigers sadly go further, with two former players, Ed Slater, 37, and Lewis Moody, 47, also having been diagnosed with the disease.

William opened the centre, which is in the grounds of Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, on Thursday.