The Prince of Wales has officially opened a new motor neurone disease (MND) centre, telling the children of the late rugby league star Rob Burrow they should be “so proud of your father because he really was an incredibly brave and very special man”.
Prince William met Burrow’s three children – Macy, Maya and Jackson – alongside his wife Lindsey and fundraising team-mate Kevin Sinfield, at the first purpose-built facility dedicated entirely to MND care, research and support.
The opening fulfils a promise the Prince made to Burrow before his death last year.
The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND), located within the grounds of Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, was the vision of the Leeds Rhinos legend and his consultant, Dr Agam Jung, who also spoke with William at the new “one-stop-shop” for patients and their families.
Burrow, who passed away at 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND, dedicated his final years to raising crucial awareness and funds for treatment and research.
He had asked the Prince of Wales to open the centre when it was built, during a ceremony in January 2024 where William awarded him and Sinfield CBEs at Headingley Stadium.
Arriving on Thursday morning, Prince William thanked those who had gathered outside in the freezing weather.
He joked that he had had a late night after attending the Royal Variety Performance in London on Wednesday evening with the Princess of Wales.
When he met Burrow’s children before the formal ceremony, Macy thanked him for writing to her family, saying; “It gave us all a lot of comfort.”
William told her: “Not at all.
“Honestly, I’m so proud of you guys. You’ve done all the hard work.
“You should be really proud of your mum and dad.”
And he said: “You’re going to help a lot of people.”
The prince gave the centre a coffee machine, after asking beforehand if there was anything else they needed.
He left it with a note which read: “Wishing everyone a well deserved moment of pause. I hope this brings a little warmth to your day.”
Mrs Burrow said: “It such a special day for the family.
“To have the prince come and open the centre is a really special day.”
Mrs Burrow said: “Rob asked him ‘would you come and open the centre’, and he’s kept his word.
“So to have him here today is a huge honour and privilege.”
She said: “I think it just shows his kindness and consideration.
“He wrote to us after we lost Rob and it was a really heartfelt message. And that’s something we take a lot of comfort from.”
Sinfield said: “I think he’s a man of his word and he’s been a massive supporter of the work we’ve done, the running we’ve done, the campaigning we’ve done.”
He said: “Rob would have been so proud of it (the centre). He would’ve loved to have seen it today.”
The rugby star will begin the latest of his challenges on 1 December.
He said: “To get to see this when we’re about 10 days before we go again, just adds more fuel. It shows what can be created when people come together for a great cause.”
Speaking at the event, William said: “Having met the family and Kevin and Rob in January 2024 for the first time in a very sweaty, smelly Leeds rugby changing room it’s been my pleasure to get to know them and follow their journey.
“And, frankly, we’re stood in one of the most incredible buildings, that’s been fundraised and supported by a few individuals who’ve gone above and beyond to make MND finally on the map.”
He said: “I’m honoured to be here today and see it up and running in just over a year.
“An incredible fundraising effort by a huge team of people has gone into this. None more so than Kevin.
“His knees and his hips have taken a battering but he’s raised over 40 per cent of this fundraising total, which is incredible. I just can’t commend enough people who have put this together.”
Addressing the family, William said: “I think Rob’s legacy will live on.
“And you guys should be so proud of your father because he really was an incredibly brave and very special man.
“And this is a world-leading centre that’s going to save a lot of lives.
“For that you shall all be very proud. And everyone is very grateful for letting us in on your family life and understanding what you’ve been managing together.”
Burrow’s son Jackson rang the bell that has heralded all of Sinfield’s epic fundraising challenges, as the royal visitor unveiled a plaque to mark the opening.
The centre has been designed around Burrow’s determination to create a place that treats patients as people, not conditions, and places them and their families at its heart.
It is the first purpose-built centre dedicated entirely to MND care, research, education and holistic support in the UK, and those behind it hope it will be followed by similar units around the country.
The centre been made possible thanks to a £6.8 million fundraising campaign, led by Leeds Hospitals Charity and supported by Burrow’s friend Sinfield, and has been completed less than 18 months after Burrow’s death.
