Thought For The Day – Monday 3rd June 2024
Inspiration
Welcome back. We hope you had a very good half term.
Good luck to Year 8 students, starting their examinations today, and to Year 12 students, commencing their examinations later this week.
Continued very best wishes to Year 11 and Year 13 students sitting their external examinations. A very dedicated, disciplined, respectful and resilient beginning was made in a very busy schedule before half term. Thank you. Keep on keeping on.
We can all be inspired by Rob Burrow CBE. Rob Burrow passed away yesterday, aged 41. Many wonderful tributes have been paid to Rob Burrow, including from the Prince and Princess of Wales.
With his extraordinary leadership, pace, resilience and skill, Rob Burrow was a truly outstanding rugby league player, as the heartbeat of the dynasty-making and history-making Leeds Rhinos team, as well as with England and Great Britain. People followed the sport to watch Rob, the five foot five inches tall player who played beyond a giant. This iconic “Grand Final” try was so very typical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/videos/cyjjyjyer0jo . After his retirement in 2017, Rob went into coaching with Leeds.
Rob Burrow was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), which affects the nerves, in December 2019. Rob approached this devastating illness with a brilliance, courage, good humour, light, positivity, resilience and selflessness beyond words. He was a beacon of hope to all who suffer. With the help of his great friend and former teammate Kevin Sinfield CBE, who ran marathon after marathon for Rob, iconically carried Rob over the line of one in Leeds, and was always there for Rob, awareness and over £15 million was raised for MND charities. A special MND hospital was built in Rob’s name in Leeds, to care for others. Rob wanted to be a voice for the ordinary person. Rob was awarded an MBE and, in 2024, honoured with a CBE.
Rob’s award-winning autobiography is called “Too Many Reasons To Live”, reflecting Lindsey Burrow, his children, parents, community and massive determination to raise awareness of MND. Lindsey and Rob Burrow married in 2006. Rob once said Lindsey was tougher than any rugby player and anyone for the love and care beyond words she showed.
On the field and off the field, Rob Burrow CBE gave everything for others. “The world would be a better place if we were more like Rob Burrow, a beautiful human being”, said former player and current presenter and commentator Brian Carney yesterday.
Rob Burrow CBE will always be remembered and will always inspire.
Rob’s story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/videos/c722q2z7nvro
The mural outside Leeds Beckett University:
