Leeds Marathon: Athlete carries terminally ill friend across the finish line

Great Britain
Moving moment at the Leeds marathon: Athlete carries his terminally ill friend across the finish line

He wanted to be active again – and at the same time draw attention to his terminal illness: A former rugby professional was able to take part in a marathon thanks to his former teammate.

For years, Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow were friends and teammates: the two Brits played rugby together for the Leeds Rhinos. And very successfully: the club won several titles. Rugby is a very intense sport, photos from their active days show two strong, almost beefy young men bursting with energy. But then fate struck.

After the end of his active sports career in 2017, Rob Burrow went public with a bitter diagnosis: he had ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), an incurable, progressive muscle wasting disease. The merciless disease became known among others through the scientist Stephen Hawking († 2018). The once muscular rugby star is now significantly emaciated and can no longer walk by himself.

Rugby pro contracted ALS

But that hasn’t changed the friendship with his former teammate Kevin Sinfield. And he was there immediately when Burrow said he would like to take part in the Leeds Marathon again – and thereby draw attention to his terminal illness. Together, the two friends have previously collected donations for research into the muscle disease. And so they began planning how Rob could actively participate in the marathon even though he can no longer run himself. Kevin asked some of his other former team-mates to get involved too – and Leeds ended up attracting a whole group of former rugby stars.

Rob Burrow sat in a special wheelchair, which his former colleagues took turns pushing during the run. Until shortly before the start. That’s when Kevin Sinfield stopped – and personally carried his friend across the finish line. A touching moment that gave many viewers a lump in their throats. The applause for the two men was deafening. The time, said Kevin Sinfield, was completely irrelevant to everyone involved in the action. It was about Rob’s desire and being able to spend time together while at the same time drawing attention to the insidious disease.

Source: RTL