North East underwear brand and Rob Burrow collaborate for charity

A North East underwear brand and a rugby league legend have partnered up to support a motor neurone disease charity. The underwear brand, OddBalls and Rob Burrow have launched a brand-new collection that will raise funds and spread awareness of the disease and what the charity does.

The new underwear range, which is named Rob Burrow MND Association collection launched yesterday (October 13), ahead of Burrow’s appearance as the guest of honour for the opening of the Rugby League World Cup in Newcastle. The special design for the underwear range includes Burrow’s signature and his shirt number which is 7. The design also uses the Leeds Rhinos colours, the team Burrow played for in the entirety 16-year career. Burrow made over 400 appearances for the team between 2001 and 2017 and won eight Super League titles and two Challenge Cups. Burrow also played for England and Great Britain.

Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019. Since then, he became a patron of the MND Association. He continuously campaigns to spread and improve awareness of the disease, while also raising money for the charity, to fund the research into treatment. In December 2020, Burrow was appointed MBE for his services to the rugby league as well as the MND community.

The underwear brand OddBalls, which is based in North Shields, was founded in 2014 to raise awareness of testicular cancer. In the eight years since then, they have established themselves as one the UK’s biggest underwear brands. They have continued to work with charities to raise awareness and funds, raising over £650,000 for various charities through the sales of products. The brand aims to hit £1m by 2023.

Rob Burrow MBE said: “I’m delighted that Oddballs has created a range in my honour and I’m grateful as the charity’s patron that they’ve chosen to support the MND Association. Please join #TeamMND by checking out the range and making a purchase – the money raised will help the MND Association support people living with the disease as well as their families, and also go towards vital research into treatments and a cure for motor neurone disease.”

The range includes men’s boxer shorts, and women’s briefs and a bra, with designs approved by Rob Burrow and his wife Lindsey.  You can view and by the range here. £1 from the sale of every product will be donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, helping them to fund research and improve care and support for those with the disease and their loved ones.