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Leeds Beckett University Honorary Graduates recognised at BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards
Rob Burrow received the Helen Rollason Award, an award which recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, for his outstanding efforts in raising awareness for MND, a disease he was diagnosed with in 2019.
Rob, who received an Honorary Doctorate at Leeds Beckett in 2020, follows in the footsteps of the late Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with MND in 2016 and has raised more than £8million through his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, as a recipient of the Helen Rollason Award.
On receiving the award, Rob said: "This is for the MND warriors,
"We will not stop until we find a cure. I am inspired to keep going by my friend Kevin.
"I'm totally overcome with this award due to the amount of amazing people who have won this before. In particular my MND hero, Doddie Weir.
"What a fantastic guy he was. I don't think I would be here today without meeting him less than a week into my diagnosis. I will accept the award on his behalf."
Rob’s former teammate and fellow Leeds Beckett University Honorary Graduate Kevin Sinfield OBE received a special award from the BBC at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards for his incredible fundraising efforts.
This year, Kevin completed his third challenge for MND, running seven ultra-marathons in seven days to help raise more than £2million and a combined £7million plus across his three challenges.
Kevin, who received the award on stage from Doddie’s son Hamish, said: "From the start this has been a big team effort,
"Everyone has got behind what we have tried to do. Rob is probably the most inspirational bloke in the UK. He has inspired us to be better friends. In sport and certainly in rugby, the connections you make, the friends don't just stop when the whistle goes.
"Sport is powerful enough to bring communities together. What we have witnessed is a nation that cares about the MND community.
"Doddie used to say MND isn't incurable, it's just under-funded. We've got to keep fighting. We will keep banging the drum."
Kevin’s recognition comes days after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced his appointment as England’s new defence coach, joining fellow Leicester Tigers coach Steve Borthwick after both guided the Tigers to Gallagher Premiership glory in the 2021-22 season.
You can still donate to Kevin Sinfield’s fundraising page to help raise money for those affected by MND.