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'Running first Leeds Marathon without Rob will be hard'

Alex Moss
BBC News, Yorkshire
PA Media Lindsey Burrow, who has long, dark brown hair and is wearing a blue hooded top. She is smiling and kneeling down next to Rob Burrow who is in a wheelchair which has a neck support. He is smiling and is also wearing a blue hooded top with yellow writing on which says 'Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon'.PA Media
This weekend's marathon will be the second in the space of two weeks for Lindsey Burrow

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 2019.

The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon was launched in 2023 to honour the former Leeds Rhinos star's campaign to fund research into MND.

Speaking 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 Charity.

She 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."

PA Media A group picture of a smiling woman knelt down next to a man in a wheelchair. They are surrounded by two smiling girls and a smiling man who is standing up. The woman and standing man are both wearing medals. In the background there is a blue and yellow coloured arch indicating the end of the Leeds Marathon.PA Media
Rob Burrow and the couple's children watched on as Lindsey ran last year's Leeds Marathon along with Rob's close friend Kevin Sinfield

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 trophies.

With 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 Honours.

Mrs 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."

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