Kevin Sinfield: The Day He Said Goodbye to Rob Burrow (E440)

Kevin Sinfield (0:03)

Last time I saw him was the day before he passed. We both knew it was the last time. I kissed him on his forehead, told him I loved him, and then I looked back for one last time and he left me with a smile, which was what he always did.

It's been a bit of a journey since we were last together.

Damian Penman (0:27)

Last time you sat here, The High Performance was all about getting the best out of yourself and the people around you. Since then, you've lost Rob, you've got a knighthood, and your lad's been playing against your old team.

Is that still the same answer?

Kevin Sinfield (0:43)

Yes.

Damian Penman (0:44)

Undoubtedly?

Kevin Sinfield (0:45)

However, I would say, the environment you create to get the best out of people is still what I believe High Performance is.

Damian Penman (0:54)

In our last chat, Kevin, you told us that you ran, so Rob could see you fighting with him.

Kevin Sinfield (0:59)

Yeah.

Damian Penman (1:00)

Now, Rob's passed away, isn't he? Obviously, can't see it. But what takes its place now when you say on day 13 and you hit him mile 15?

Kevin Sinfield (1:14)

Rob's legacy. It's still really important to me that, I think. The way people have got behind the campaigning, the movement, Rob's center in Leeds is a physical piece, if you like. We've got the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. I think everyone in the UK knows who Rob Burrow and the Burrow family are. So legacy, but then, over this period of time, you know, being on with this, this is year number seven now, so throughout that period of time, the amount of people I've met, the families, the connections, are what drives me on. We've lost so many in that period of time, and so many getting diagnosed. And there's something beautiful around those interactions I have with the MND community, and I have with people. People don't want to talk rugby anymore, they want to talk running and MND.

But life's about connections for me, and there's something beautiful about meeting people whilst we're out on the challenges and the running. There's somebody stood in front of you who's come to meet you, and they're full of grief and pain. Their eyes are full, ready to cry. Yeah, they're just so happy to be there. And it's a real, it's a real mix of emotions that's right in front of you, and you don't know how to handle it at times, and the best way is to go in for a hug, if I'm being honest.

But there's something really beautiful about those interactions, and there's people there, who've lost people 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, and never felt like they've been able to grieve properly, never felt like people understood, never felt like they could take the shame away from what people were thinking or describing back then, because nobody knew what M&D was. So, suddenly, for them to feel support, for them to feel part of something that is trying to provide some hope and almost give some answers to why they've lost, whoever they've lost, is why we carry on. And I'm in it for life, I'm at that commitment.

What's to find a cure? Like, that's, you know, if you ask me, what's the end goal? The end goal is to find a cure, of course it is. And I think we owe it to all the people we've lost along the way and those who were diagnosed today. But sat firmly alongside that is the level of care we provide families. It's not been good enough. And the amount of families I meet whose lives have been flipped, you know, they've got the perfect family, there's mum, dad, there's math two kids, both got full time jobs, kids are doing really well in school, suddenly bump one of them gets diagnosed. And then the life completely changes. Suddenly, within a matter of months, someone's in a chair and can't feed themselves. So the other adult then has to become the primary carer and finish work. So they've gone from having two big incomes to suddenly just the carer's allowance. They've got two kids who they're trying to explain.

The amount of families I've met like that, it's devastating and the level of carer has to improve. We have to get better and we owe it to all those we've lost to ensure we do that. Because every one of, every family, every person that I've met who's been affected by MND all say the same thing. I want to make it better for those who come after me. And what a brave way to look about life, by the way, but whilst I'm fit and healthy, I'll try and do my best.