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A pioneering new facility dedicated to motor neuron disease (MND) care, research and support has officially opened in Leeds, fulfilling the dream of the late rugby league star rob burrow,
It was hailed as a “transformative moment in care”. rob burrow His family and supporters were welcomed on Monday for the inauguration of the MND Center at Seacroft Hospital.
Burrow’s son Jackson had the honor of cutting the ribbon along with his mother Lindsey, sisters Macy and Maya and his grandparents.
The event was also attended by dozens of supporters who helped make the project a success.
The center was a long-time aspiration of the Leeds Rhinos legend and his mentor Dr Agam Jung, who joined the family in scissoring.
talking to bbc BreakfastLindsay Burrow expressed deep pride.
“It really is a special day,” she said.
“It’s incredibly proud to be here, with so many staff working at the center and the patients here, it’s an honor to be here.”
He added, “This is the flagship centre, but hopefully other centers will open. It is the first center of its kind in the UK. To have this center in Leeds named after Rob is incredibly special.”
His daughter Maisie said: “It’s incredible, and we’re all really proud, and I know my dad would be extremely proud.”
The construction of the center was made possible by a £6.8 million fundraising campaign, led by Leeds Hospitals Charity and significantly supported by friends of the borough and former Leeds Rhinos teammate. kevin sinfield,
More than 17,000 donors contributed to the cause, with patients, their families, clinical experts and the wider MND community actively involved in its design.
Dr Jung, consultant neurologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and director of the centre, said the facility symbolizes the borough’s determination to ensure patients are treated as individuals, not just as conditions.
“It has been five years since the idea to build this center was born – it is a legacy of Rob’s strength, the support of his family and the compassion of the entire community,” he said.
“I am so grateful to so many people who have worked together to make this dream come true. I was delighted when Rob fully embraced the Leeds MND service ethos of ‘Living in the Now’. He wanted to leave a legacy for people to be able to do the same, and this has spread across the MND community. All of us who work in this incredible new center will be focused on providing the best care and community for families and patients.”
Esther Wakeman, chief executive of Leeds Hospitals Charity, reflected on the overwhelming response from the public. “When we launched the fundraising appeal with Dr. Jung and the Burrow family in September 2021, we never imagined it would receive so much support from the entire country,” he said.
“In just three years, we were able to reach the £6.8m target. We would like to extend a special thank you to them kevin sinfield Leading the way for his heroic fundraising, in honor of his friendship with Rob, and he’s leading the way again this year with his latest challenge. He has inspired a lot of people.”
Sally Hughes, director of services and partnerships at the MND Association, confirmed the importance of the centre, calling it “a transformative moment in the care of people with MND in Leeds and across West Yorkshire”.
He added: “This purpose-built facility, inspired by our late patron, will provide a supportive and compassionate environment for everyone affected by MND – including for the person diagnosed and their family, which is so important when facing such a life-changing disease.”
Burrow died at the age of 41 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND. A ground-breaking ceremony for the center was held on the same day his death was announced, with his family expressing confidence that he would be “looking down and smiling”.