Leeds Rhinos Rob Burrow launches appeal for new motor neurone disease centre

Former Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow has thrown his weight behind a fundraising appeal to create a new centre for motor neurone disease in Leeds.

The ex-professional rugby player has inspired many in his own battle with the disease, now he wants to help others suffering from the life-limiting condition.

He’s putting his full support behind a fundraising appeal by Leeds Hospital Charity, which is hoping to raise £5m to build the Rob Burrow Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Care Centre.

Mr Burrow said: “Imprisoned in the brutality of MND, my vision is that people diagnosed with MND hear the news in a calming and tranquil sanctuary.

“I envisage a beautiful, welcoming building that is user and family friendly. A place where patients feel comfortable to bring family members into a safe and homely environment for them, with signs of hope and optimism.

“For carers of those with MND it is important to know that their loved ones are in the best possible place.

“Something every MND sufferer and their families deserve. Although the news won’t be any better, it will be easier to come to terms with in a purposely built care centre that meets the needs of every MND patient.”

The Leeds Rhinos Foundation has already pledged £50,000 towards the new centre.

Rob Burrow is currently treated at MND at Seacroft Hospital, as well as around roughly 80 other patients in Leeds.

However, bosses have since decided that the facilities could do with an upgrade.

Mr Burrow has since set out a vision that the new centre will be a “calming and tranquil sanctuary” for sufferers, providing an elevated quality of care for those living with MND.

If proposals are effective, it will bring together all of the area’s MND services under one roof – giving patients access to a range of different holistic support all in one place for the very first time.

This is set to include speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, diet and nutrition advice; with patients able to easily access consultants from Neurology, Palliative Care and Respiratory medicine at the new centre.

“We want to provide a safe haven for our patients and their families – a peaceful environment that reiterates to them that they have the best possible care, helping them ‘live in the now’, a serene place that instils hope and courage,” said Dr Agam Jung, Consultant Neurologist who leads the MND team at Seacroft Hospital.

Feature image – National Television Awards.