Lindsey Burrow, widow of rugby league star Rob Burrow, will be running the London Marathon this year as a tribute to her husband.

Mrs Burrow will be running in the 26.2 mile course. She said, “Each mile I run is a testament to his enduring legacy.”

Rob Burrow passed away in June 2024 due to motor neurone disease (MND), which was diagnosed five years before his death.

Mrs Burrow said that running in this marathon is “not just a physical challenge; it’s a deeply personal journey of love, loss, and resilience.”

Her participation in the marathon will contribute towards donations to the Leeds Hospitals Charity and Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Last year, the marathon raised £73.5 million. 

The TCS London Marathon will take place on April 27 where Mrs Burrow will participate alongside her brother Mark.

Rob Burrow, born in Wakefield, was a Scrum-half for 17 years at Leeds Rhinos, winning a total of 13 trophies during that stint including eight Super League titles. With over 500 appearances in his career, he retired in 2017. He chose to come out of retirement for just one match in 2019, a month after he was diagnosed with MND.

He was also made a CBE by the Prince of Wales in 2024 for his efforts to raise awareness for MND, having raised over £15 million for MND charities.

The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, dedicated to the former Rhinos player, has also added two new events for this year. There will be a new marathon relay and one-mile run during the event in May.

Mrs Burrow was present for the launch at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.