Rob Burrow's widow shares pain of 'first milestones' since MND campaigner's death

Rugby league legend Rob Burrow died in June five years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, as his wife speaks of the difficult "first of everything" after his death

Rob Burrow 's widow has told of the 'family milestones' which they are facing without him for the first time.

The rugby league legend died on June 2 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019. It would have been his 42nd birthday on Thursday September 26 and wife Lindsey Burrow admitted the 'first of everything' after his death 'is always the hardest'.

She said it was "bittersweet" going on the first family holiday without him to their favourite destination, Florida. She took their three children, Macy, 12, Maya, nine, and Jackson, five, but admitted: "I didn't want to go without Rob.

"He kept saying, 'please take the children'. It's also his birthday next week, then it will be our first Christmas. The kids are brilliant and a reason to keep his legacy alive." She pledged to "bang the drum" for the MND community.

Asked about his birthday, she said: "The girls do after-school classes on a Thursday and I think Rob would have said, 'carry on as normal'. As a family we talk about Rob every day... so it will be an ordinary day and we will remember him privately. Despite showcasing MND, he was quite a private family man."

She told the BBC : "The first of everything is always the hardest - but the kids give me a reason to keep going."

Rob was told he had MND two years after retiring from professional rugby. As his condition deteriorated, Lindsey took on the role of carer.

She added: “I'm really passionate about the caring side, having been a carer for Rob throughout his illness... so I want to champion the work carers do. More can be done to support families and carers - people have to give up their livelihoods and being a carer can be a very lonely place at times, so we need to support them."

Speaking at the JustGiving Awards, she said awareness about MND was "crucial" and her husband's end-of-life care and medical team were "incredible". Accepting a special recognition award on his behalf, she added: "Rob is here in spirit and would be so proud."

The Prince of Wales has written the foreword to her upcoming memoir. Take Care: A Memoir of Love, Family & Never Giving Up, 'explores the deepest reserves of resilience, personal sacrifice and hope that Lindsey Burrow exhibited on a daily basis when her family’s life was upended by the terminal MND diagnosis'.

During a visit to Leeds in January, William surprised Rob and former teammate Kevin Sinfield by presenting them with their CBEs for services to MND awareness.