Leeds DJ and Rugby League presenter releases dance music album raising money for Rob Burrow and Motor Neurone Disease

Rugby AM's Alex Simmons has teamed up with Leeds singer and former Rhinos cheerleader Lauren Green to produce an album of covers and original tracks, titled Lockdown.

All profits from the 10-track album, priced at £9.99, will be donated to the MND Association.

Alex and Lauren will host a day of live music streaming to coincide with the album's launch on Sunday, inviting people to join the fundraising effort and #RaveforRob.

They will be joined by DJs Danny Bond, Dale Castell, Luke Pompey, Ang Lee and Luke Tibble.

When Leeds Rhinos legend Burrow was diagnosed with MND in December 2019, Alex knew he wanted to help raise awareness of the disease.

He said: "A lot of people know me from Rugby AM, a show that started in my garden shed and ended up on national TV.

"To be honest, when I started out I got laughed at but the players were brilliant, literally some of the best rugby league players in the world would rock up to my shed. And the very first guest on the show from the shed was Rob Burrow.

“When the news came through about Rob I wanted to contribute in some way and I knew with my experience in music I could probably do something a bit different.”

Alex is Operations Director of Jamaica Rugby League, sits on the inclusion board for the GB Rugby Football League and is the Leeds Rhinos match day host for the South Stand at Headingley.

He also has 20 years’ experience as a professional DJ and being on furlough during lockdown gave him the opportunity to start creating new tracks.

He teamed up with Leeds singer Lauren Green, a former Leeds Rhinos cheerleader, and the pair quickly had enough material to make an album.

Lauren said: “We decided to call the album Lockdown as all the tracks were produced in lockdown, but also because MND literally locks sufferers down in their own body.

"I’m really pleased to have been able to work with Alex on this project and I hope people will support it by buying the album to help the MNDA in its vital work.”

The album will be released on Alex's website on Sunday and the pair hope to raise £10,000 in Rob Burrow's name.

Everyone who buys the album will also be emailed a 60-minute mix featuring all the tracks on the album and a selection of other tunes that Alex has produced this year.

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