Millions wept when rugby hardman Kevin Sinfield carried his old teammate Rob Burrow over a marathon...

READ MORE:The photo speaks to us all about the inestimable power of friendship; about how even our darkest times can be elevated by hope and love.

'We'd planned to end the race arm-in-arm, but we'd underestimated how tired Rob would be,' says Kevin now. 'We'd had to stop maybe six or seven times on the route to get him out of his wheelchair because he was too hot and uncomfortable and we had to make sure he had the correct nourishment.

Rob was diagnosed with MND, an incurable degenerative condition affecting the brain and nerves, in 2019, and given just two years to live. Since then, he has not merely existed but remained defiantly and triumphantly alive; intent on raising money for, and awareness of, the ruthless disease that has left his agile mind trapped in a completely paralysed body.

'The qualities I most value in Kevin are his integrity and his ability to go out of his comfort zone. It takes a special kind of person to do what he has done for me and the whole MND community. 'I am hoping it will appeal to young boys in particular to show that friendships can be based on love and vulnerability. True friends like Kevin are always with their friends even when times are tough.'

'Instinctively you try to find out about it and you're hit with terrifying statistics. Fifty per cent of people die in the first two years. A third live for 12 months. You realise how serious it is. You can't think straight. You're in a tail-spin. The answer was Kevin, who in turn says of Rob: 'He's an inspiration. He inspires me to be better, to take risks, to do the right thing as far as I can. Our friendship is unconditional. They are the best friendships. And I know he would have done the same for me. He's told me so.'

'I'd said I wanted it to be horrible. And I really meant that. I wanted to show there are people who are willing to go through pain for some greater good. I knew it needed to be extreme to make that point about pain and commitment. Completing the challenges, he reflects, was greater than all his rugby triumphs, his honours, awards: 'It goes beyond any special moment in rugby,' he says.

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Millions wept when rugby hardman Kevin Sinfield carried his old teammate Rob Burrow over a marathon...Kevin Sinfield says Sunday's inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is as much 'a celebration of friendship' as it is a vital charity fundraiser. Sinfield has raised over £8million for motor neurone disease charities since friend and former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Burrow was diagnosed with the condition in late 2019.
Source: DailyMailUK - 🏆 7. / 90 Read more »

Millions wept when rugby hardman Kevin Sinfield carried his old teammate Rob Burrow over a marathon...Kevin Sinfield says Sunday's inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is as much 'a celebration of friendship' as it is a vital charity fundraiser. Sinfield has raised over £8million for motor neurone disease charities since friend and former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Burrow was diagnosed with the condition in late 2019.
Source: DailyMailUK - 🏆 7. / 90 Read more »