Welcome to Yorkshire and rugby league legend team up for tree planting charity campaign

Welcome to Yorkshire’s My Y personal membership was launched on Yorkshire Day last year as a way of promoting God’s own county across the globe and uniting those connected to the region by planting a tree for each and every member.

Following its success, the tourism body, is now joining forces with the inspirational former Leeds Rhinos rugby league player, Rob Burrow, with the option to choose a very special Welcome to Yorkshire Rob Burrow Membership. This new option will see £5 from every one purchased donated to the MND Association and recorded in the MND Association Rob Burrow Fightback Fund.

Alongside this Welcome to Yorkshire is also supporting a number of charities including its nominated charity of the year Yorkshire Cancer Research. TheBusinessDesk.com’s Alex Turner is taking part in the #TourDeWalkshire campaign in May and aiming to cover 450 miles over the month to raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Pontefract born Burrow was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019 and has since spoken publicly about his illness, raising awareness and inspiring his close friend and Leeds Rhinos director of rugby, Kevin Sinfield MBE, to raise £2.7m in his ‘7 in 7 Challenge’ (7 marathons in 7 days) in support of people impacted by MND.

Sinfield said “Rob is a proud Yorkshireman and loved playing for his county during his glittering career. This is a wonderful way for people to support the MND Association and help families just like Rob’s.”

The global membership scheme which has a range of options, includes offers, discounts, a much-coveted green Y badge and a donation to Welcome to Yorkshire’s dedicated charity, Yorkshire Cancer Research. It engages with Yorkshire folk across the globe and anyone with a connection with or love for the county, with at least one tree planted in Yorkshire soil for every membership. It can be a special personal treat, an ideal gift or a great way to pay tribute to a loved one.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive James Mason said: “Rob Burrow is an absolute Yorkshire legend and the team at Welcome to Yorkshire are honoured and proud to be joining forces with Rob to raise money for his chosen and incredibly important MND charity, through our My Y membership, which also helps the environment by planting a tree for every single member. We’ve had an overwhelming response to the membership launched on Yorkshire Day and the idea really seems to have caught the public’s imagination.”

Jenn Dodd Regional Fundraiser for Yorkshire, Humberside and the North East at the MND Association said: “We are so grateful to Welcome to Yorkshire and Rob Burrow for providing this exciting membership option where in addition to having a tree planted in your name you can also help support people affected by MND. We hope that the membership and trees will inspire future fundraising and awareness raising activities for people affected by MND, in these special areas of woodland, and that this will grow into a long-lasting legacy for Rob and the 5000 other people living with MND in the UK right now.”

The Rob Burrow Welcome to Yorkshire My Y personal membership is just £30. with £5. from each donated to Rob’s chosen MND charity www.yorkshire.com/become-a-member