Lindsey Burrow's memoir goes to Century

Century, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is to publish the “life-affirming” memoir of Lindsey Burrow, wife of rugby league star Rob Burrow who diagnosed with Motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019, entitled Take Care: A Memoir of Love, Family & Never Giving Up.

The publisher said the “working mother of three young children has inspired the nation through her example of love and selfless commitment to her husband, Rob Burrow (CBE), the rugby league legend she has cared for full time” since his diagnosis.  

Century publishing director Ben Brusey bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Ruth Cairns at Featherstone Cairns. The book will be published on February 27th 2025 backed by a major PR campaign.

Co-written by two-time William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award winner Donald McRae, Take Care “explores the deepest reserves of resilience, personal sacrifice and hope that Lindsey Burrow has exhibited on a daily basis since her family’s life was upended by the terminal MND diagnosis,” Century said. The publisher dubbed the memoir “life-affirming”.

“Juggling her day job for the NHS as a physiotherapist, with round-the-clock care for Rob, who cannot move or talk, and can only eat with Lindsey’s assistance, she has simultaneously raised her brilliant young family and helped to raise awareness for MND. The efforts of Rob, Lindsey and Kevin Sinfield [English rugby union coach and MND campaigner] have raised over £15m for charity.”  

Accompanied by a major PR and marketing campaign across the country, the book will be published in print, digital and audiobook, with Lindsey Burrow to read the audiobook. the memoir follows the No.1 bestselling memoirs of Rob Burrow (Macmillan) and Sinfield (Century), the latter of which was the bestselling sports book of 2023 and is nominated for a British Book award. 

Burrow said: “It’s been a very emotional experience sharing my innermost thoughts on the page. Rob is the love of my life and these last few years have been extremely difficult at times. But I am given inspiration and strength by him every day, by what he is going through, and by his positivity.  

“I am also given great energy and support by my children and by family and friends, which I hope this book can showcase. Above all, my wish for this book is that by opening up about my family’s journey with MND, and the dark and the light that we have experienced along the way, this book may offer some hope and solidarity to other families who are caring for their loved ones.” 

Burrow said: ’You could not put into words how grateful I am to have met Lindsey. No one deserves to have their world turned upside down. Yet she turns up every morning with a smile on her face knowing what the day ahead looks like, knowing I need help with every single thing. I hope her book will inspire people to be more like her. What a world that would be.”

Brusey said: “In some ways, Lindsey Burrow has been an unsung hero over the last few years as her family’s story has captured the country’s hearts. Lindsey has always been behind the scenes, holding everything together, often in the toughest of situations, facing hardships and dilemmas that most of us cannot even imagine. I am in awe of her. She takes the phrase ‘in sickness and in health’ to its poignant extreme.  

“Her book may make you cry, but it will leave you with a greater zeal for life, and will make you want to be a better person, just like her.”