Racehorse Helps Boost Rob Burrow’s Motor Neurone Disease Fight Back Fund
A Thoroughbred racehorse that has been named after Rugby Legend Rob Burrow, will help raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Fight Back Fund.
The three-year-old grey gelding, named Burrow Seven, will be included in a unique fundraising campaign for Rob, which is set to raise money for the MND Association. The initiative will invite the public to become a member of an exclusive Burrow Seven Racing Club which was set up in honour of Rob.
As a member of the Burrow Seven Racing Club, you’ll get to experience the drama and excitement of owning this very special thoroughbred racehorse.
Memberships to the Burrow Seven Racing Club will be sold allowing the public to be part of a special journey building Rob’s legacy as a Rugby League champion and heroic charity crusader.
All profits from membership sales of the Racing Club will go to the MND Association and contribute to a number of research projects aiming to find a cure for motor neurone disease. These funds will also be recorded in The Rob Burrow Fight Back Fund.
Membership in the Burrow Seven Racing Club costs just £59. People can join the racing club at www.burrowseven.com The Burrow Seven fundraiser has been made possible thanks to the support of former rugby league player and close friend to Rob, Barrie McDermott, who is now an ambassador for the campaign.
Barrie comments:
It’s hard to come up with ideas for fundraising events in an era of COVID but we think we’ve hit upon something original, inclusive and exciting with Burrow Seven. Rob was a thoroughbred on the pitch. No one could match his speed. He was consistently a front runner for the match winning try and always a banker for man of the match!”
Barrie and Rob at the races, 2005
Rob met the racehorse for the first time on Monday 2nd November at Burrow Seven’s training yard in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Rob was accompanied by Barrie and his mother and father, Irene and Geoff.
Rob said:
I’m a bit overwhelmed. I’ve been excited about this fundraising campaign for some time but meeting this magnificent racehorse was something else. I’m really honoured to have him named after me and I can’t wait to see him in his first race. Thank you to everyone who supports the MND Association by taking part. Research is the key to cure this disease. Together we can do it.”
Rob was diagnosed with MND in December 2019. There is currently no cure for the degenerative disease. In less than a year Rob has lost his voice and ability to walk, he has difficulty breathing and stiff joints cause him severe pain. He is 38 years old.
Rob has shown the same spirit in his battle with MND as he did on the pitch playing for Leeds Rhinos. He and his family have worked tirelessly since the diagnosis to raise awareness of the condition and to raise vital funds for the MND Association. Thanks to advances in technology, increased collaboration and funding from supporters, real progress is being made in the quest to find a cure for MND.
Burrow Seven is expected to take part in his first professional race early in the new year and then he will be aimed at Cheltenham, home of national hunt racing. Members of the Burrow Seven racing club will get to follow all of the excitement of his racing career until membership ends on October 31 2021. Throughout the year they will be given the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win tickets to watch Burrow Seven on race days from the owner’s enclosure or visit him at his training yard. All prizemoney from Burrow Seven’s race wins will go to the charity.
Upon joining members will receive a welcome pack which includes a letter of thanks from Rob Burrow, a certificate of membership, a photo of Burrow Seven, a lapel badge and information from the MND Association about the research they are funding to help find a cure for motor neurone disease.
Throughout the year members will receive regular updates about the horse’s performance and upcoming fixtures, including videos of him in training on the gallops so they can observe his form. They will also receive updates about progress being made in the field of motor neurone disease research.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
