Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield makes emotional 'for life' vow ahead of ‘7 in 7: Together’ MND challenge
Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield has made a lifelong pledge to fight motor neurone disease (MND), the illness which killed his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow.
Sinfield has raised more than £10million for MND causes in memory of Burrow, who was diagnosed in 2019 and died in June last year. His latest feat - ‘7 in 7: Together’ - starts next Monday in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk and will be his sixth and penultimate challenge.
He will run an ultra-marathon each day in different parts of Great Britain and Ireland, with each leg split into seven-kilometre blocks, to be completed inside an hour. The challenge culminates at Rhinos’ AMT Stadium on Sunday, December 7, when it will include the first Leeds Santa Dash, a three kilometre fun run which is open to the public.
Previous challenges have raised more than £10 million for MND causes. Another will take place in 2026, but Sinfield stressed his plan has always been to stop at seven - which was the number worn by Burrow during his glittering playing career. Speaking at an online press conference today, Sinfield stressed: “It is fun and enjoyable, but it’s tough.
“The primary objective is to raise money and awareness and the support we’ve had over the years has been great. The donations are the things that matter, that will get us a cure sooner and will help families now. We can’t thank people enough for the support and money people have given.
“The plan is to do seven of these and I’ll stick to that. I will do one more next year, but I am in this for life. What it looks like beyond next year, I am not sure yet, but I do know I will continue to do something. I have made a commitment to this community and I will see that through.”
The former Rhinos and England captain is confident a cure will be found. He added: “There has been plenty of progress. We probably don’t hear enough about it and I think with the advances in technology and artificial intelligence now, it’s only a matter of time before there’s a major breakthrough.
“I am really confident of that, but right from the start it wasn’t just about finding a cure, though we understand how important that part of it is. For those living with MND now, we’ve got to make sure their journeys are better.”
Looking ahead to next week’s challenge, Sinfield said: “Running through Headingley on that last day will be really, really special, to see so many people dressed as Mr and Mrs Santa Claus. To be back in Leeds with so many people supporting the cause, like they have done for the last five years, will be a great way for us to finish.”
Sinfield was in Leeds earlier this month to attend the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital. Building work began the day after Burrow’s death and Sinfield reflected: “To get to see it, it showed me we’re continuing to do the right thing. The centre will make a huge difference and provide the care and support and love people with MND deserve and haven’t got, sadly, in the past.”
Donations can be made via this link.