Yorkshire Photographer with Motor Neurone Disease to Display Work at Rob Burrow Centre
Sayart
sayart2022@gmail.com | 2025-10-19 09:22:43
A 67-year-old photographer from York living with motor neurone disease (MND) will have his nature photography displayed at the new Rob Burrow Centre, a specialized facility being built in Leeds and named in memory of the late Leeds Rhinos rugby star. Ken Blackburn was personally invited by Leeds Hospitals Trust to contribute his work to adorn the walls of the £6.8 million facility at Seacroft Hospital, which is scheduled to open later this year.
Blackburn, who was diagnosed with MND in 2020, said photography allows him to "get outdoors into nature and forget about MND for a while." He described the opportunity as "a real honor being asked to contribute," adding that it has "really helped me to feel I can give something amazing back to MND patients and their families." Despite receiving his diagnosis in 2020, Blackburn had been experiencing symptoms of the condition for nearly a decade before the official diagnosis.
The photographer has primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a rarer and slower-progressing form of MND. He now uses an all-terrain wheelchair to navigate outdoor environments for his photography sessions. Prior to his diagnosis, Blackburn had planned to become a semi-professional landscape photographer during his retirement, a dream he has adapted to pursue despite his physical limitations.
"I really think photography gives me a mental boost," Blackburn explained. "I've found my happy place out in nature which is better than any drug. It certainly has a calming effect on me." His photographic work captures recognizable countryside scenes from across the Yorkshire region, including iconic locations such as Fountains Abbey, Castle Howard, and Yorkshire Arboretum.
Among his favorite subjects is wildlife photography, particularly red squirrels, which he said requires him to be "very patient" in order to capture successfully. While taking pictures from his powerchair proved to be "challenging at first," Blackburn has learned to overcome its limitations and find the best positions from which to shoot. He admitted there is sometimes a temptation to venture too far in pursuit of the perfect shot, which once resulted in his chair needing to be extracted from a bog – though he noted that everyone saw the funny side of the incident.
For the past four years, Blackburn has created an annual calendar featuring his images, which has helped raise £2,500 for the MND Association charity. He has been invited to visit the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in December to view his artwork displayed in the facility. The center will offer comprehensive care and support to individuals with motor neurone disease and their families.
Blackburn said it means a great deal to him that his pictures can serve a meaningful purpose and leave a lasting legacy, especially as he prepares to relocate from Yorkshire to Northern Ireland. "I see it being something that other local people with MND can enjoy in the future," he added, expressing hope that his work will provide comfort and inspiration to future patients and families who visit the center.
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