Next PM ought to use Burrow and Sinfield’s legacy to encourage Britain’s kids
The men who want to be the next Prime Minister have led the emotional and deserving tributes to Rob Burrow.
The current one, Rishi Sunak, along with his challenger Sir Keir Starmer, have spoken of the “incredible legacy” Burrow has left behind, following his heartbreaking death from Motor Neurone Disease at the age of just 41. It’s true, too.
Once in a while someone rises from the wreckage of life to provide us with an inspirational reminder of what a sobering virtue perspective can be. And right now, it’s safe to assume the humble but heroic family and friends of Burrow won’t give a hoot who wins the General Election next month.
READ MORE: Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield – a legacy of friendship beyond the rugby pitch
READ MORE: Rob Burrow was an inspiration on and off the pitch – he will be missed by all
Because neither Sunak or Starmer will be able to soothe or heal the pain from the loss these people will have to go through in the coming months or years. Yet Burrow’s legacy will at least provide some help and comfort as time moves on.
(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
And it’s a legacy whoever gets voted into Downing Street can take on to unprecedented levels. The immediate impact of his tireless fundraising and improving awareness of MND could be seen in Leeds on Monday.
With tragic irony, Burrow didn’t live long enough to see the first spades go into the ground to mark the start of the building of the specialist MND facility that will be named after him. The groundbreaking ‘Rob Burrow Centre for MND’ at Seacroft Hospital will help those suffering from the cruellest of conditions.
It will also help those poor people who haven’t even been born yet, who will also become victims in the future of a disease which doesn’t give a damn. The centre wouldn’t be rising from the ground at all if it wasn’t for Burrow. Or his pal Kevin Sinfield.
These two had the kind of enduring relationship there is nowhere near enough of. Sinfield, who has pushed the boundaries to super human extremes in raising millions for MND, speaks about his friendship with Burrow in his superb book ‘Kevin Sinfield – A Man In A Million’.
(Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com/REX/Shutterstock)
One of love, loyalty, respect, courage and determination.
How to stand up and fight back, when life punches you in the guts.
How to never give up, even though it feels like the easiest option.
How to value others and offer them help when they need some the most.
How to make sacrifices. To go that extra mile. To do the right thing.
Sinfield wanted – and still wants – to suffer on his runs, because MND victims have to suffer. “I wanted Rob to know I was willing to do anything for him,” he once said.
(Image: PA)
If you haven’t read Sinfield’s book then please do so, because it highlights virtues we should all adhere to as we plot our routes through life. Children are taught many things in school, in a bid to shape who they will go on to become as adults.
Which means the next Government should take it upon themselves to make Sinfield’s book part of the curriculum. Forget learning French, Spanish or Religious Education, and teach our future generations a thing or two about how to grow up as proper human beings.
Just imagine how better the world would be if it was full of more people like Burrow and Sinfield?
Now what a legacy that would be.
