Thought For The Day – Tuesday 16^th June 2026

“Don’t waste a moment…In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.” (Rob Burrow C.B.E., last message, 2024)

At the weekend, former rugby league player, and current rugby union coach, Kevin Sinfield was awarded a knighthood by King Charles III.

Since his retirement from playing, Sir Kevin Sinfield has raised more than £11m for Motor Neurone Disease charities, supporting care and research.

Motor Neurone Disease is a life-shortening, terminal condition where the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurones, stop working properly. “M.N.D.”, as the illness is called, gradually affects the body’s ability to control movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing, leading to severe physical weakness and paralysis, while senses, vision, and mental awareness typically remain fully intact.

Upon receiving this honour, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

“We have to continue the fight for the 5,000 people who are living with M.N.D. in the United Kingdom today and the six people who will be diagnosed tomorrow and the next day. I am pleased that this honour allows me to continue to raise awareness.”

Those in the spotlight shine the light on, and guide, others.

In 2020, Sir Kevin began his fundraising for the illness, running 7 marathons in 7 days in 2020.

Sir Kevin has continued since each year. He has just announced plans for his 7^th “7 marathons in 7 days”.

Why the number 7?

Sir Kevin’s own inspiration has been another great rugby player, Rob Burrow C.B.E.. Rob was outstanding, and Kevin, played together in an historic Leeds rugby league team. Rob was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019. Rob passed away from this life in 2024.

Rob’s wife Lindsey Burrow has continued to massively inspire, like her husband, and like Sir Kevin. Lindsey has raised massive awareness and fundraising, with incredible positivity, happiness, and resilience.

In March of this year, Rob’s father, Geoff Burrow, who also inspirationally campaigned for, and supported, the M.N.D. community, and also demonstrated the very best of rugby generally, passed away from this life.

Last November, Geoff Burrow attended the opening of “The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease”, named after the son of Irene Burrow and Geoff Burrow, at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds. Geoff said: “Dreams come true”.

Many of the funds for this £6.8m centre, pictured below, have been raised by the work of Sir Kevin Sinfield.

Following its opening, Geoff Burrow said the centre was “not just for MND sufferers and their families, but for all the staff. The staff are marvellous, they’re angels”.

“Don’t waste a moment…In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream”, Rob’s final message: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cl44vdl5j67o