Leeds legend Rob Burrow will be made an MBE in the New Year's Honours.
The rugby league icon has turned his diagnosis with motor neurone disease into a charity crusade to help other sufferers.
Former Leeds Rhinos star and dad-of-three Rob, 38, told 12 months ago how he had been diagnosed with the illness – and medics said he had one to two years to live.
A source told the Mirror : “Rob’s story has really touched the hearts of everyone. His incredible will to raise money despite battling MND is nothing short of astonishing.
“He has refused to let the illness take over his life – instead showing the same strength that he always showed as a player.”At 5ft 5in, Rob was famed as the smallest player in the Super League.
Rob won the Challenge Cup twice, scoring a try in the Rhinos’ 2015 win over Hull KR.
He also won eight Grand Finals and three World Club Challenges in his 17 years with the side. After retiring in 2017, he took on a coaching role.
But gradual changes in his speech led him to be diagnosed with MND two weeks before Christmas last year.
Motor Neurone Disease is a degenerative condition that affects how the nerves in the brain and spinal cord function.
In January, Rob took part in a testimonial match for Leeds against Bradford Bulls.
Before the game, he walked out on the pitch with his children Macy, eight, Maya, five, and Jackson, one.
And in a bid to raise awareness of the illness, he let TV cameras follow him for BBC documentary Rob Burrow: My Year With MND.
Rob, who is married to Lindsey, 37, has also inspired other fundraisers, including a static cycle record attempt.
