Kevin Sinfield to visit Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers & Wakefield Trinity for 7-in7 MND Grand Finale
Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield’s seventh and final motor neurone disease (MND) challenge will visit Leeds, Castleford and Wakefield on a rugby league-themed route across the north of England.
7 in 7: The Grand Finale will see the former Leeds Rhinos captain again run seven ultra-marathons in successive days as he raises awareness and funds to support those affected by the terminal illness, which has no known cure. Inspired by former teammate Rob Burrow, who died of MND two years ago, Sinfield will visit the grounds of all 12 English top-flight clubs before finishing on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Betfred Super League Grand Final on Saturday, October 3.
Each day is divided into 7km blocks which Sinfield must complete within the hour before starting the next section. The extra mile events will also return each day when Sinfield and his team are joined by those impacted by MND to complete a mile together.
Since the first annual challenge in 2020, Sinfield and his team have raised more than £11 million for the MND community. The MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association will all be supported by this year’s challenge.
The Challenge begins on Sunday, September 27, at Sewell Group Craven Park, home of Super League champions Hull KR, before crossing the city to Hull FC’s MKM Stadium. The route then heads through Market Weighton to finish at Shiptonthorpe.
The following day the team depart Shiptonthorpe and call at the University of York, York Knights’ LNER Community Stadium, the Minster and the city’s racecourse on the way to the finish line at Bishopthorpe Palace, home of the Archbishop of York.
On Tuesday, September 29, Sinfield will set off from Bishopthorpe Palace and pass near Rob Burrow’s home in Pontefract on the way to Castleford Tigers’ Wheldon Road before finishing at Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium, Belle Vue.
The next day, September 30, starts at Wakefield and will see Sinfield make an emotional visit to Leeds Rhinos’ AMT Headingley before travelling to Bradford Bulls’ Odsal and finishing at Accu Stadium in Huddersfield.
The team then head across the Pennines, via Sinfield’s home town of Oldham, to finish at the Peninsula Stadium, the home of Salford City FC. Friday, October 2 takes the team from Salford to St Helens via Leigh Leopards and Wigan Warriors and the epic fundraising journey’s final day visits Warrington Wolves before finishing at Old Trafford before kick-off of the Betfred Super League title decider.
The fundraising page is already open and supporters can donate here. Sinfield and the team will wear twelve iconic designs as they visit each Super League stadium, representing each team before donning a neutral design to arrive at Old Trafford. They can be ordered via this link.