Work on new £6.8m Rob Burrow Centre for MND to start today following tragic death of Leeds Rhinos hero

It was announced yesterday that the former Leeds Rhinos star had died after a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND, an incurable condition that affects the brain and the nerves.

Since then, mourners have gathered outside the club’s home at Headingley Stadium leaving a sea of floral tributes to the man who became an inspiring symbol of hope and friendship.

Rob was at the centre of a huge charity appeal to build a state-of-the-art new facility for people with MND at Seacroft Hospital, which was recently greenlit by councillors.

Leeds Hospitals Charity has confirmed that construction on the centre will begin today as planned.

Get the latest on all of the news from across Leeds sent directly to your inbox with our free daily newsletter

Paul Watkins, director of fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity, told the PA news agency: “The family still want it to go ahead. That just shows how magnanimous and gracious they are.

“All along they have thought about others.”

The build is expected to take about a year and the charity remains focused on raising the last £1 million of their target.

Mr Watkins, 55, added: “We’ve raised £5.85 million of the £6.8 million centre and we will continue until we get there.

“We’re just devastated at the news today. Rob’s work transcended the rugby league community. At a time when he was most vulnerable he put himself out there.

“Few people in the UK now don’t know what MND is, and a lot of that is because of Rob.

“I was lucky enough to be in the room with him many times and fortunate enough to catch that glint in his eye or his smile. His smile would light up any room. He was a joy to be around.”

The huge amount of money raised to build the centre followed a mammoth fundraising and awareness campaign led by Rob, along with former Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield and Rob’s wife Lindsey.

Architects drawings have showed how the completed centre will look, with an east and west wing housing the primary clinical spaces connected by a central atrium.

It has been designed as a community focused area with reading and quiet spaces, as well as activity and dining areas. There will be a space for family members to use and it will enable staff to observe patients in a more informal setting.

Rob, who had three children, died at the age of 41. Among his fans who gathered at Headingley Stadium last night was HGV driver Marc Hill, 31, who told PA: “I’m absolutely gutted. Just devastated.

“I idolised Rob Burrow growing up and he was probably one of the main reasons I got into rugby. I met him a couple of times in passing. The funniest time was when I walked into a McDonald’s and he was sat in there. He always said hi and always had time for fans.

“He was a true inspiration and was relentless in every way. He meant everything to Leeds. He was Leeds.

“I’ve got a four-year-old and she was asking a lot of questions before I left to come here. We tell children he was someone you should aspire to be like.”

Mr Hill also praised Rob for his dedication to raising awareness of MND both in Leeds and across the UK.

He said: “I didn’t know what MND was when it first came out. For me personally he raised awareness massively. It just shows how much he’s brought it forward.”