William officially opened the Rob Burrow Center for MND in Leeds

The Prince of Wales has officially opened a specialist motor neurone disease (MND) center named after rugby league legend Rob Burrow.

The center for patients and their families was the idea of ​​the Leeds Rhinos star, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2019 and died aged 41 in June 2024, and was consulted by Dr Agam Jung.

It is the first purpose-built facility dedicated entirely to MND care, research, education and comprehensive support.

During a tour of the facility at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, Prince William told Burrow’s children – Missy, Maya and Jackson – that they “should be very proud of your father because he was a truly brave and very special man.”

Prince William said he believed the rugby league player’s legacy “will live on”.

“This is a world-leading center that will save so many lives,” he told Borough Children.

“So you will all be very proud – and everyone is very grateful for allowing us to learn about your family life and understand what you have been managing together.”

As well as the rugby star’s children, the prince also spoke to Boro’s widow, Lindsay.

“It’s a special day for the family,” Ms Burrow said. “Having the Prince come and open the center is a really special day.”

“Rob asked him: ‘Can you come and open the centre?’ And he kept his promise.

“So, it’s a huge honor and privilege to have him here today. I think it just shows his kindness and care.”

“He wrote to us after we lost Rob and it was a really sincere letter. That’s something we take great comfort from.”

Prince William also spoke to Kevin Sinfield, Boro’s friend and former Leeds Rhinos team-mate, who has raised a total of more than £10 million for MND charities since 2019.

The Prince presented both Burrow and Sinfield with CBEs at Headingley Stadium in 2024 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the fight against the disease.

Seinfeld said the prince was “a man of his word and was a huge supporter of the work we did, the campaign we ran.”

“Rob was very proud of him. He would have loved to see him today,” he said.

“Seeing this almost 10 days before we’re due back adds even more fuel,” added Seinfeld, who will begin his latest challenge on December 1.

“It shows what can be created when people come together for a great cause.”

Speaking at the event, Prince William said: “Having met the family, Kevin and Rob in January 2024 for the first time in a very sweaty and smelly rugby dressing room in Leeds, it was a pleasure getting to know them and follow their journey.

“And frankly, we are standing in one of the most amazing buildings, which has been funded and supported by a few individuals who have gone out of their way to finally get MND on the map.

“I’m honored to be here today and see this in action in just over a year.”

The new center was opened following a £6.8 million fundraising campaign led by Leeds Hospitals Charity and Dr Jung, who is now director of the centre.

Paul Watkins, director of fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity, said he remembers Borough asking Prince William to open the centre.

Describing the visit, Mr Watkins said the Prince was “very gracious and very congratulatory on a fantastic effort, and very pleased to be here today”.

“I remember when Rob asked the cheeky question about whether he would open it and he said he would, so that was the icing on the cake as the prince had been following the family closely during the trip,” he said.

Prince William also donated a coffee machine to the centre, which the patients and staff will “absolutely love as it was a really meaningful gift for us to accept”, Mr Watkins added.