Kevin Sinfield MBE has revealed his plans to finish his series of inspiring challenges on a high as he prepares to endure his most formidable challenge yet for motor neurone disease research.
Former Leeds Rhinos star Sinfield has announced he will run seven ultra-marathons from Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to Old Trafford in Manchester, running over 60km a day for seven consecutive days. The run will start on the 13th of November and finish in time for the Rugby League World Cup final on Saturday November 19, with Sinfield set to run onto the field at half-time. The announcement comes on the 40th birthday of Rob Burrow, former teammate and friend of Sinfield, who was diagnosed with MND in December 2019, which has led to Sinfield completing several gruelling challenges since his friend's diagnosis.
The route will see him run from Murrayfield through Melrose, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, York, Leeds and Bradford before reaching the theatre of dreams seven days later. The former Leeds Rhinos legend has already tackled the 7 marathons in 7 days challenge, which raised £2.7m in December 2020, and most recently, he ran 101 miles from Leicester Tigers' Welford Road home to Leeds' Headingley ground in 24 hours, raising a further £2m in donations.
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When speaking to BBC Breakfast, Sinfield, in front of Burrow and former rugby union players Doddie Weir and Ed Slater, who also have Motor neurone disease, explained why he intends to make this challenge his last and why it's fitting the challenge will finish at Old Trafford, a stadium that means so much to him and Rob after celebrating some of their best moments in a Rhinos shirt together at the iconic ground.
"We will start in Edinburgh, and I'm doing Murrayfield to Old Trafford. We are sticking with seven days because it means so much to Rob (Burrow). This challenge was the original plan, but we couldn't go ahead because of Covid. After I finished the 101 challenge, I knew we'd revisit this. I'm delighted at where we are at, but I've got a wonderful team who keep me going, and we enjoy it.
"First of all, happy birthday to Robert Geoffrey Burrow. As soon as he got diagnosed, we got around him. That's the same for Doddie Weir and Stephen Derby, and now Ed Slater. Hopefully, they'll all be with us at some part along the way. It's around 43.44 miles a day. We are trying to entice sponsors in already. It's a decent distance which works out at a marathon and a half a day.
"I'm trying to bring codes of sport together, and rugby league has played a huge part in mine and Rob's life. When I walk out at the time at Old Trafford, it will be emotional, but I don't want to think about that just yet. I want people with MND to know there are people who can go to dark places for them. These challenges help me fulfil the drive since retirement. Training is tough already, but it will be worth it in the end. I know my body, and hopefully, with my team, we will get there. I cant thank BBC Breakfast and everyone at home enough, I know the cost of living is hard but if you can spare any change, the MND community will really appreciate it"
Burrow, who turns 40 today, also asked the general public to help Kevin along the way and said that he could not thank Sinfield and the team enough for what they have done for him and his family since his diagnosis nearly three years ago, and stated that he couldn't ask for a better captain, or friend to help him through this hard time.
"I’ve said it many times before, everyone should have a friend like Kevin," said Burrow. "I know he would be the first to share the spotlight with all the team who are making this possible, just as he did as my captain but his leadership and inspiration is at the heart of every challenge. I am sure this will be tough and I can’t wait to see Kevin and the guys along the way to cheer them on. People have already been so generous over the last two years and, as a patron of the MND Association, I would like to say a massive thank you, your support has made the world of difference to so many people. Go safe Kev and please support them as much as you can.”
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