The reason for doing this is to raise awareness about how brutal and cruel and devastating MND is and that it doesn't just affect the person, it affects the whole family. Pan Mac said: “ Too Many Reasons to Live is the extraordinary story of Rob’s life as the perennial underdog who has taken to his fight with MND with the same irrepressible courage as he took on his opponents on the pitch.” Rob Burrow says he has no regrets about playing rugby league and would not discourage his children from following in his footsteps despite his battle with motor neurone disease. Harvie added: “Books like Rob’s don't come along very often. His is a story of extraordinary courage, inspiration, kindness and sheer bloody mindedness, and we are extremely proud to be working with Rob on his book.” The former Leeds and Great Britain scrum-half is now confined to a wheelchair and unable to perform basic functions without help as motor neurone disease takes an increasing hold of his body.

Me doing an interview is nothing compared to what Rob and many other sufferers go through, it puts it into perspective and, if we can help one other person or raise more awareness and more funds for research, it can only be a good thing.

The Burrow family speak about their charity work and the shirts they have designed for Leeds Rhinos Burrow said: “I am really excited for my story to be told as it is a true underdog story. Against all odds I became successful in a sport played by the biggest of men. The adversity gave me a fighting chance as I now face an impossible opponent, and my fight to stay alive!” Rob Burrow: I have no regrets about playing rugby league despite MND battle; 'My kids can play whatever sport they desire' He told BBC Radio Four's Desert Island Discs: "I think with the advances medically in sport and how they're governed, players are looked after better than they have ever been. Burrow has been described as one of the greatest rugby league players of all time. At only 5'4" tall and weighing 70kg at his peak, he was half the weight of some other team mates. But during his time at Leeds he was the multiple winner of the Super League, Challenge Cup, World Cup Challenge, League Leader's Shield and the Harry Sunderland man of the match trophy in 2007 and 2011.

The former Leeds Rhinos star is due to embark on his latest challenge to raise money for research into motor neurone disease and will run seven consecutive ultra-marathons, starting in Edinburgh and ending at the Rugby League World Cup final in Manchester.

Burrow's former team-mate and close friend Kevin Sinfield says rugby league's evolving protocols have made the sport "safer than ever" despite ongoing concerns over the long-term impact of head collisions. I'm a prisoner in my own body, that's the way MND gets you. The lights are on but no one's home," says Burrow. Governing bodies have worked really hard to take away as many head collisions as they can, and then how these head collisions are monitored and looked after, the protocols that are in place now are better. Rob and his wife Lindsey, who cares for her husband full-time despite having to look after their three young children and holding down a job as a physiotherapist, are taking part in a documentary to highlight what it is like to live with motor neurone disease, with Burrow maintaining he is "not giving in, right until my last breath" as he has "too many reasons to live".