LEEDS RHINOS RUGBY LEGEND ROB BURROW: Race horse supports sporting icon's fundraising campaign

A unique horse racing fundraising campaign for a sporting hero: the racehorse racing for a rugby legend fighting a terminal disease.
Yorkshireman Rob Burrow is a rugby league icon.

For sixteen years, he played over 500 professional matches for his local team Leeds Rhinos and England.

He became one of the most successful players in the sport winning eight Super League championships and two Challenge Cups.

He retired in 2017.

However, in December 2019, he was diagnosed with Motor-Neuron Disease (MND) - a degenerative disease of which there is currently no cure.
In less than a year, the former athlete has lost his ability to walk and has difficulty breathing.

He is just 38 years old.

Rob’s family and friends, including former teammates such as Barrie McDermott have spearheaded a campaign and are raising funds to help fight the rare disease.

In 2020, they turned to the sport of horse racing to continue that fight.
In a fundraising venture, they have syndicated a young horse called Burrow Seven.

Named in honour of Rob, Seven represents the shirt number he wore throughout his years playing for Leeds Rhinos.

Pre-trained by the legendary British trainer Henrietta Knight, Burrow Seven is a three-year-old gelding now in training with Jedd O’Keefe in Yorkshire.
When Rob visited Burrow Seven, he was “a bit overwhelmed.”

“Meeting this magnificent racehorse was something else.”

“I’m really honoured to have him named after me and I can’t wait to see him in his first race.”

“Research is the key to cure this disease. Together we can do it.”

Supporters of Rob can buy a share in the horse for just £59, with all profits going to the MND Association and their life-saving research.

Those supporters receive welcome packs and a message of thanks from Rob himself, plus the chance to go racing and visit the horse at his yard.
The campaign has been backed publicly by celebrities from across the sporting world including cricketer Stuart Broad and jockey Paul Mulrennan.

They are hopeful of a fairy tale beginning for Burrow Seven in 2021.

Will he reach the same heights as the brave man he was named after?

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