BBC Sports Personality of the Year viewers and audience members were left in tears of admiration for Rob Burrow, his family and friend Kevin Sinfield.
Former Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Burrow won the Helen Rollason Award for his efforts in raising awareness of motor neurone disease. He was diagnosed with the life-limiting and incurable condition in 2019.
The award comes less than a month after former Scotland rugby union star Doddie Weir, a friend of Burrow's and the winner of this award in 2019, died after his own battle with MND.
Burrow was joined on stage in Manchester by former Leeds team-mate Sinfield, who was presented with a special award by Weir's son Hamish in recognition of his fund-raising to support MND research and awareness. Sinfield is England's new rugby union defence coach under Steve Borthwick.
It was a remarkably emotional moment during the prestigious show as viewers heard how MND has affected Burrow's life and how his wife and best friend have cared for him. Many stars in the audience were visibly moved as Burrow took to the stage, with viewers at home expressing their emotion in their thousands.
Speaking through a synthetic voice machine that recreates his actual voice, Burrow, who is now non-verbal, said: "I am totally overcome with this award due to the amount of amazing people that have won it before, in particular my MND hero Doddie Weir. I don't think I would be here today without meeting him less than a week into my diagnosis. I will accept the award on his behalf.
"I am inspired to keep going by my friend Kevin Sinfield. The guy who makes the impossible seem possible. My family who have put their lives on hold to care for me, especially my beautiful wife Lindsey and my amazing kids. Lindsey did not expect to sign up for this but she puts me first and foremost. I am not here without her sacrifice.
"Lastly, to the MND sufferers out there. We will not stop. We will find a cure. Thank you."
Sinfield raised more than £7million by running seven marathons in seven days in 2020 and ran a further 300 miles from Edinburgh to Manchester to raise even more last month.
Elsewhere, night of success for England's Lionesses was capped by striker Beth Mead winning the Sports Personality of the Year prize.
The 27-year-old Arsenal player, who is currently sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was the star of England's success, scoring six goals to secure the Golden Boot and also being chosen as UEFA's player of the tournament.
Mead won the public poll ahead of England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes and Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead.
Full BBC SPOTY awards list
Sports Personality of the Year: Beth Mead
Team of the Year: England women's football team
Coach of the Year: Sarina Wiegman
Young Sports Personality: Jessica Gadirova
Lifetime Achievement: Usain Bolt
Helen Rollason Award: Rob Burrow
Special award: Kevin Sinfield
Unsung Hero: Mike Alden
World Sports Star: Lionel Messi
