Rob Burrow's widow joins MND peak challenge
Rob Burrow's wife has climbed the highest of Yorkshire's Three Peaks in support of an MND patient's fundraising campaign - just two weeks after her husband's death from the condition.
Lindsey Burrow joined Ian Flatt on Saturday to scale Whernside as part of his seven mountains in three weeks challenge.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Burrow said she had been "overwhelmed" by the support she had received since her husband's death and said supporting Mr Flatt had been "fantastic".
Mr Flatt said his plan to summit mountains across England, Scotland and Wales, was inspired by Burrow and the number seven shirt he wore for Leeds Rhinos.
Rob Burrow died aged 41 on 2 June after battling motor neurone disease (MND) since 2019.
Mr Flatt, from Green Hammerton, is raising money for the Leeds Hospitals Charity Rob Burrow MND Centre.
The 58-year-old, who uses a wheelchair and relies on a ventilator for up to 18 hours a day, was diagnosed with MND in 2019, just months before Burrow received his diagnosis.
He has previously spoken about feeling "scared and lonely" but said the publicity Burrow and his friend Kevin Sinfield created around MND had given him the courage to take on his own fundraising challenges.
During the trek, Mrs Burrow said her priority since her husband's death was her children.
"[I just want] to look after them and make sure they are brought up just exactly as Rob would want them to be," she said.
"I think doing things like this, hopefully, will make them proud and continue to make Rob proud.
"It's really important for me to be here to support Ian and the MND community.
"I never like letting people down, so just to be here today to support Ian and to see the turnout is just fantastic.
"I've been overwhelmed by people's support since the announcement of Rob's passing and that's been a real comfort."
At one stage of the climb a make-shift bridge - dubbed "Burrow's bridge" - was erected to help Mr Flatt complete his climb.
Mr Flatt has previously scaled Snowdon, in Wales, in 2022, as well as completing a 100-mile trek last year, and two marathons.
To date he has raised £9,095 for the Leeds Hospital Charity.
The seven-mountain challenge is set to continue with Wild Boar Fell in the Yorkshire Dales, on 18 June.
Mr Flatt then intends to tackle Snowdon on 21 June, Pen-y-Fan in Wales on 25 June, Scotland's Ben Chonzie on 29 June and Skiddaw in the Lake District on 3 July.
His epic challenge is due to culminate with Roseberry Topping, also known as the Yorkshire Matterhorn, on 7 July.
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