On Sunday, seconds on the clock ticked away as Kevin Sinfield, a British former professional rugby player and current defense coach for England’s national team, stopped short of a marathon finish line. He wasn’t exhausted or cramping. He wanted to help his friend finish the 26.2 miles they started together.
Cameramen captured those touching moments when Sinfield lifted his former teammate, Rob Burrow, out of his adapted wheelchair and carried him in his arms over the finish line, kissing his cheek. The clock read 4:21:54. Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Burrow was diagnosed with the degenerative condition, motor neurone disease (MND), in 2019, and the race he and Sinfield were completing together—the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon— was held in support of two MND charities.
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The race began and ended at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium, where the two friends competed together: Combined, they played over 1,000 games for their club, the Leeds Rhinos, and were part of what is considered the club’s “golden generation.” During the race, Sinfield wore a number 7 jersey—the number Burrow played in throughout his 16-year rugby career.
Before the race, Sinfield told BBC Breakfast, “Thankfully, Rob is five-foot-four and quite lightweight too—it’s not like we’re pushing a six-foot-10 guy who’s 25 stone (350 pounds).”
He continued, “It will be tough, but it will be tough for everybody … I’ve been inspired by Rob throughout the time I’ve known him, especially the last couple of years. The fact that he’s going to be right under my nose this time, I won’t be short of inspiration.”
Since Burrow’s diagnosis, Sinfield has taken on several other running challenges to raise money for MND. Last year, he completed seven ultramarathons in seven days, and in 2021, he ran 101 miles in 24 hours for the cause. According to CNN and UK media reports, Sinfield has raised almost $10 million for MND charities since 2019. There’s currently no treatment for MND, so Burrow pays privately for some drugs that are not licensed, his wife told the BBC earlier this year.
In December, Burrow and Sinfield were honored by the city of Leeds because of their “courage, commitment ,and inspirational strength of character.” Sinfield told the BBC: “Whilst it was a joy to bring sporting success to our city on the field, the way the people of Leeds in particular have shown their love and support for my friend Rob Burrow and his family since his MND diagnosis says everything about what a wonderful city Leeds is, and I accept this award on behalf of all those people who have done so much for our community.”
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Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she’s written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner’s World, Like the Wind Magazine, The New York Times, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
