Ex-England captain Steph Houghton paid an emotional tribute to Rob Burrow, who died at the age of 41, expressing her "devastation" at the rugby league legend's passing.
Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, just two years after hanging up his boots following an illustrious playing career - helping Leeds Rhinos, his only club, to dominate the sport and win eight Super League titles.
The diagnosis arrived just one year after Houghton's husband and former Liverpool footballer Stephen Darby was diagnosed with the illness at the age of 29, three months after Darby married former Manchester City defender Houghton and forcing him to retire from the sport.
Both Burrow and Darby have been stalwarts in their respective battles to raise awareness in the battle against the illness, transcending sport itself to do so.
And Houghton paid tribute to Burrow on Instagram, writing on her story: "Devastated doesn't come close. Words can't describe our love for Rob! Sending all our love to Lindsay and the family. We are always here for you! Xx".
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The message was written over a post from the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which also paid tribute to Burrow: "Everyone at Darby Rimmer MND Foundation is heartbroken and devastated to hear the sad news that our great friend Rob Burrow has passed away. Our thoughts are with Lindsey, Macy, Maya, Jackson and family. Rest easy Rob x".
Steph Houghton paid tribute to Rob Burrow, who died after a lengthy battle against MND on Sunday (Instagram: Steph Houghton)
Stephen Darby was diagnosed with MND three months after his marriage to Houghton (Steph Houghton/Instagram)Over the past five years Burrow has raised nearly £20million to fight MND, building a new care centre for MND patients alongside former Rhinos team-mate Kevin Sinfield. Work will begin on that centre on Monday, after Burrow's wife Lindsey revealed her husband didn't want to waste a day.
“We mentioned the groundbreaking, we will have the groundbreaking today, that was Rob’s wishes. We spoke to Lindsey on Friday and that’s what he said. We can’t waste a day and Rob wouldn’t want us to waste a day, we start today," Burrows friend Phil Daly told BBC Breakfast.
He used every opportunity to raise awareness of the disease, even opening his life up in two moving BBC documentaries: My Year With MND and Rob Burrow: Living With MND.
He also joined the United To End MND coalition which successfully campaigned for a £50million Government investment in targeted MND research. Burrow was made an MBE in 2021, before being made a CBE earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Darby partnered with British Forces Veteran Chris Rimmer to launch the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation to help fund and assist research to source a cure, while also creating a network for others diagnosed with the illness.
In March this year, he and former footballer Marcus Stewart, who also has the illness, completed a 178-mile three-day 'March of the Day' from Bradford to Liverpool in aid of people MND. The trek, which included other notable figures including Paul Scholes, Jill Scott and Jamie Redknapp, raised £130,000.
According to the NHS, there is currently no cure for MND but there are treatments that help to reduce how it impacts a person's daily life, with the MND Association stating that the illness affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any time.
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