Former rugby league star turned motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner Rob Burrow recorded a series of messages for his children before he died, his wife has said.
Lindsey Burrow said the messages will be played at special moments in their lives as they grow up.
Ahead of a tribute to him by his former club Leeds Rhinos on Friday, Lindsey Burrow revealed her husband looked to the future in his final message, in which he said: “I hope one day we find a cure and live in a world free of MND.
“By the time that you watch this, I will no longer be here. Rob Burrow over and out.”
Image: Rob Burrow’s wife Lindsey Burrow and their children Jackson, Maya and Macy arrive at the Leeds Rhinos stadium to lay flowers. Pic: Ben Lack Photography Ltd
She said the message “teaches us all to live in the moment, to be brave” and said Burrow “lived by every word”.
Mrs Burrow became emotional when discussing the messages her husband left their children on his eye-gaze machine, that she has yet to listen to.
“I know Rob has left messages on there for the children. At the minute, it’s too raw to do that, to go and look through machines, but there are birthday messages on there, there are messages for the children in the future.”
Image: The Prince of Wales meets Rob Burrow and his family. Pic: PA
Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019, barely two years after ending his stellar playing career, and died earlier this month at the age of 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with the degenerative disease.
The Great Britain and England player is survived by Lindsey and children Macy, Maya and Jackson.
Image: A large screen tribute to Rob Burrow at Wembley. Pic: PA
Ms Burrow said the support and tributes that were paid to Rob after his death were “overwhelming” and a personal message from Prince William “really sticks out”.
She said it was “really heartwarming, really sincere, and that’s something that we will treasure as a family forever.”
Image: The Prince of Wales meets Rob Burrow (right) and Kevin Sinfield at Headingley Stadium in Leeds. Pic: PA
William met Burrow, and his former teammate Kevin Sinfield, at Headingley, Leeds, in January, where the prince surprised them by making the pair CBEs for services to MND awareness.
Mrs Burrow called it “a day that we’ll remember and treasure forever and to get that message from Prince William has given us a lot of comfort and will always have a special place in my heart.”
Leeds Rhinos, where Burrow spent his entire career, winning eight Super League titles, will stage a tribute to him before Friday’s home match at Headingley against Leigh Leopards.
A capacity crowd is expected on what is Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day.
Earlier, the club announced it had parted company with head coach Rohan Smith, who “will step down with immediate effect”.
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