The wife and children of rugby league legend Rob Burrow have visited the sea of flowers and tributes placed by fans at the home of his former club.
Lindsey Burrow, 41, her two daughters, Macy, 12, and Maya, nine, together with son Jackson, five, spent 30 minutes reading the messages and cards outside the Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium today.
Rob’s wife fought back tears as she bent down to read the heartfelt words written by members of the public. Her children, all in their school uniforms, laid down their own flowers for their father. Lindsey's eldest daughter, Macy, put her arm around her mum while the pair took in the tributes as Jackson asked: ”Are these all for Daddy?"
Burrow, 41, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 and was given just two years to live, died in hospital on Sunday. In recent days a constant stream of people have been to pay their respects at Headingley, leaving scarves, flags, shirts, flowers and number 7 balloons, in reference to the number on the shirt he wore with pride.
Many tributes had the same poignant words repeated including “inspiration”, “legend”, “greatest and toughest” and “champ”. Since his diagnosis the former Leeds Rhinos, Great Britain and England player had campaigned to raise awareness of MND and to raise funds for research into the incurable illness.
And many of the messages had personal words to the family, thanking them for everything they had done and wishing them well as they come to terms with Rob's death. Lindsey spent time reading the tributes and speaking to people involved with the club as she hugged her daughters and pointed out teddies to her son.
People who had come to lay flowers while the family were there, stood back out of respect until they had finished their visit. In a tribute to her husband yesterday Lindsey said: "Although we knew this day would arrive, I am somehow still feeling at a loss for words that our loving, kind and caring husband and father has departed. However, we take comfort from how much people's love and continued support meant to Rob through his most vulnerable times."
Calling him "simply the best" and "our hero", she went on: "I was incredibly proud and fortunate to call Rob my husband. "I am unbelievably proud of the campaigning he's done to raise awareness and the millions of pounds raised in his name for MND charities.”
She added: "My priority is to make Rob proud, and to bring our three children up as Rob would want and ensure their happiness and well-being.”
Burrow's great friend Kevin Sinfield said: "Today was the day that I hoped would never come. The world has lost a great man and a wonderful friend to so so many. You fought so bravely until the end and became a beacon of hope and inspiration, not only for the MND community but for all those who saw and heard your story."
He also added: "I would always say that you were pound for pound the toughest player I ever played alongside, however since your diagnosis, you were the toughest and bravest man I have ever met."
Sinfield has been hailed after he raised millions for MND research by undertaking a series of endurance challenges. Last year the former England assistant coach completed seven ultra-marathons over seven days in seven cities, including Dublin, Edinburgh and Birmingham, which raised over £825,000. Sinfield and Burrow also launched the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, which took place for the second time last month.
Burrow's long-time former Leeds team-mate Jamie Peacock, who also played in the triumphant team with Sinfield, wrote on Instagram: "Rob in a sport where courage, bravery and grit are characteristic of every player at the absolute top, you were the most courageous, the bravest and the grittiest of them all.
"Becoming an inspiration for 1000s and a North Star for the MND community, providing hope where before there was none. Never once complaining about your condition and situation. An inspiration to us all. RIP mate."
The Prince of Wales was also among those paying tribute, describing Burrow as a "legend of rugby league" who had a "huge heart". He said: "He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.’ Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy."