‘Special’ moment Rob Burrow carried over finishing line

Chris Tarrant has joined a growing number of stars backing the Express Crusade to get rugby players Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield knighthoods. Mr Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019 and his former teammate, Mr Sinfield, has campaigned tirelessly to raise funds for research into the terminal condition.

Last month, the pair stole the nation’s heart when Mr Sinfield, 42, carried the 40-year-old over the Leeds Marathon finish line after pushing him for 26 miles in a specially-adapted wheelchair.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, TV legend Chris Tarrant said: “I think when knighthoods seem to be given away so easily, it would be absurd if these two don’t get at least a similar honour.

“They are proper heroes. [The footage of Kevin carrying Rob] was incredible, really emotional and very raw.

“They should [get a knighthood], in a world where they are trying to get Boris’s father a knighthood, for God’s sake, I think those two deserve it rather more than Boris’s dad,” the former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire presenter added.

Earlier this month, plans for Stanley Johnson to be given a knighthood were reportedly scrapped after it was thought his former prime minister’s son had included him on his resignation honours list.

Rob and Kevin have transformed awareness of MND since the former bravely went public with his diagnosis.

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington has also backed our campaign and said knighting the duo is “deserving”.

He said: “What they have both done is to significantly raise money and made both the profile of the MND Foundation, the movement and its striving to find a cure not only locally significant, but nationally and internationally.

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“They are both humble characters. They are very selfless. They are very much team players…[Kevin and Rob’s example] has brought the whole sport together.

“Everybody has been touched by their story and striving for MND. It’s something that has touched the hearts of the nation.”

Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins, who is also a patron of MND Association, has also thrown her support behind the campaign.

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The issue is particularly important to her because her father tragically died from the disease back in 2015.

She told us: “I wholeheartedly back this campaign to see Kevin and Rob knighted as soon as possible – they have both made such a massive difference in the fight against motor neurone disease.

“I know the huge difference it makes to the MND community having these two champions fighting their corner.

“And all of their efforts help take us one step closer to finding a cure, which will hopefully mean one day families don’t have to go through what we did with my Dad.”

To back the campaign, sign our petition here.

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