Rob Burrow’s widow Lindsay praised her late husband’s bravery in an emotional speech at the National Television Awards on Wednesday.
Shortly before she presented Kate Garraway with the best Documentary gong for Derek’s Story, she praised the former rugby player for giving others the courage to ‘dare to dream.’
The former Leeds Rhino star was diagnosed with the incurable and life-limiting motor neurone disease in 2019. He passed away in June this year.
Standing in front of the audience, Lindsay began: ‘For the first time tonight I am here without Rob.
‘I know he would tell me to be brave. I can do that because he showed me how.’
Rob Burrows widow Lindsay praised her late husband’s bravery in an emotional speech at the National Television Awards on Wednesday
Shortly before she presented Kate Garraway with the best Documentary gong for Derek’s Story, she praised the former rugby player for giving others the courage to ‘dream’
She continued: ‘Under the most difficult circumstances Rob because the face and voice os the MND community.
‘He never let this disease define him. Rob taught us all that in a world full of adversity that we must always dare to dream.’
Rob, who was diagnosed in December 2019 when doctors warned he may only have two years to live, is unable to feed himself, dress himself, or go to the toilet himself.
Lindsey stepped in as his unpair carer while simultaneously looking after their three children and continuing to work for the NHS as a physiotherapist.
She televised her own struggle in Lindsey Burrow: Who Cares for Our Carers?, she explores the impact on unpaid carers in England and Wales who provide care worth an estimated £162 billion a year, the equivalent of a second NHS.
Winning documentary, Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story follows the last few months in the life of Derek Draper, Kate’s late husband, and also highlights the pressures of being a carer.
Political lobbyist Derek died in January at the age of 56 after contracting Covid-19 in 2020 and never recovering.
Accepting the gong from Lindsay, with her children by her side, Kate said: ‘This is a bittersweet one isn’t it? It’s very bitter to be here, with the gorgeous Darcey and Billy.’
Accepting the gong from Lindsay, with her children by her side, Kate said: ‘This is a bittersweet one isn’t it? It’s very bitter to be here, with the gorgeous Darcey and Billy’
The presenter continued: ‘I promised them they didn’t have to say anything. We’re halfway through the first year of firsts really.
‘A first Easter and first birthdays, without Derek. It’s so strange to be here for the first Television Awards without him.
Derek had previously been the star of documentaries Kate Garraway: Finding Derek (2021) and Kate Garraway: Caring For Derek (2022).
