KEVIN AND ROB MADE ME CRY... SPORTS PEOPLE WHO BECOME SERIOUSLY ILL ALWAYS FIGHT AND I HOPE I EMBODY SOME OF THAT

England Olympic rugby player Burton is battling back after suffering from encephalitis and was inspired by RL pair

-  ALEX SPINK

Rugby Correspondent @alexspinkmirror AS Kevin Sinfield lifted Rob Burrow out of his wheelchair and cradled him in his arms, Abi Burton could feel tears welling up.

Sinfield was a couple of paces from completing the Leeds Marathon, staged to raise funds for a specialist Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre in Burrow's name in the city.

He held his stricken rugby league team-mate before kissing him on the cheek. Together, the pair crossed the finish line (below, far right).

"I won't lie, I cried my eyes out," said Burton, who last night joined Ed Slater, another MND sufferer, in succeeding Sinfield as co-recipients of the Rugby Players' Association Blyth Spirit Award, which recognises courage in the face of adversity.

"Kevin is a massive inspiration to me, Rob too. I'm from Leeds, My dad played and coached league, my twin brothers Joe and Oli went through the Rhinos' academy. Joe was coached by Rob before Rob became ill.