Janine GriffithsMore than 100 people gathered last week to say a final farewell to Geoff Burrow, father of rugby league legend and motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner Rob Burrow.
The 75 year old died on 30 March after a short illness. A notice from funeral directors Charles E Ashton & Son remembered Geoff as a devoted husband to Irene and proud father to Claire and Jo, adding that he was “now reunited with his treasured son Rob”.
Geoff Burrow became a powerful voice in the fight against MND after Rob’s diagnosis in December 2019. Even following his son’s death in June 2024, he continued to campaign with remarkable energy.
Last November, he stood at the opening of the £6.8 million Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds. He called the moment proof that “dreams come true”. The centre was funded through public donations to Leeds Hospitals Charity, with much of the money raised through a campaign led by Rob’s former teammate Kevin Sinfield.
Craige Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said Geoff played a huge role in developing the centre. He attended every stakeholder and development meeting over two years.
Leeds Rhinos paid tribute to Geoff as a campaigner who never stepped back. The family has asked for donations in his memory to be split between the Rob Burrow Centre at Seacroft Hospital and the British Heart Foundation.
For East Leeds, Geoff Burrow’s work leaves a lasting mark. The centre he helped build stands as a constructive, living legacy for families facing MND in the community and beyond.
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