KEVIN Sinfield is going even further as he raises money and awareness for people living with motor neurone disease with an Ultra 7 in 7.
The rugby league and Leeds Rhinos legend will run all the way from Murrayfield in Edinburgh to Manchester United’s Old Trafford in just seven stages.
And he will end on the pitch at half-time of the men’s Rugby League World Cup final on Saturday, November 19.
The latest challenge, which starts on Sunday, November 13, will see Sinfield go to Melrose, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, York, Leeds and Bradford before heading to Manchester.
So far, almost £5 million has been raised after he initially did seven marathons in seven days then a 101-mile 'The Extra Mile' continuous run from Leicester Tigers’ stadium, where he now works as defence coach, to Leeds’ Headingley.
And the spirit of former Leeds Rhinos team-mate team-mate Rob Burrow, on whose 40th birthday this was announced, rugby union stars Doddie Weir and Ed Slater and footballer Stephen Darby – who are all living with the condition – is all the motivation he needs.
Sinfield said: “You put those four in a rugby team and it’s not getting beaten.
“We’ll try and hit places that mean a lot to Doddie, Rob and Stephen. I said to Ed we weren’t going to add Old Trafford to Gloucester, though. That’s a bit too far.
Most read in rugby league
'Superman' James Roby reveals flaws as he prepares for 11th Grand Final
Jon Bennison keeps his feet onthe ground as Grand Final awaits
Zane Tetevano glimpses Old Trafford atmosphere – then switches off
Matty Lees hopes Mikolaj Oledzki is bemused after St Helens Grand Final win
“It’s about 43 or 44 miles a day. It’s a decent distance, we’re really looking forward to it.
“It’s all down to Rob. When he was diagnosed in December 2019, that started something with his former team-mates and our former club, combine Doddie and Stephen and now add Ed. He’s been a true inspiration already.
“People living with MND have no choice but to live with their condition every day and they are inspiration for all of us taking part in the challenge.
“MND is not incurable it has just been underfunded and I have belief that by raising funds we can give the scientists and researchers the best possible opportunity to find that cure.
“We also need to help those living with MND, to give them hope and love so they know we are with them.
“And I want the MND community – I want Rob, Doddie, Stephen and Ed – to know that there are people out there who are willing to go to some dark places for them. I’m certainly willing to do that.”
Burrow admits he ‘declined a lot’ during the Covid-19 lockdowns and admitted, even though he is going through a ‘plateau’: “To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be here now.”
On the latest challenge, he added: “I didn’t know what it was but I knew it would be the hardest yet. You’ve got to ask yourself, ‘What sort of guy would put his body in harm’s way for his little mate?’ I can only say a brother.
“I love him like he’s family and I know my family do too. I’ve said it many times before, everyone should have a friend like Kevin.
“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.”
Burrow welcomed Gloucester rugby union player Slater, who was diagnosed with MND in July, to the ‘Dream Team’ of him, Weir and Darby, who have campaigned to get funding into the condition and awareness of it.
And the 34-year-old, who immediately retired after his news, is now part of the effort after watching Sinfield previously.
He said: “Through these guys is where I get my awareness of the disease. Day to day I’m learning to live with it, that’s challenging at times.
“If I can add a small fraction to the work they’ve done, I’ll have achieved something.
“What Kevin does is inspirational. Before my diagnosis, I watched it and thought, ‘How amazing is the work he’s doing?’
“Now I’m part of it, I can add my voice to what he’s doing. The challenges he’s taken on have taken huge mental strength and the support he’s given the community we can all take strength from.”
Slater revealed MND is having more of an effect on him, adding: “I’m probably feeling more symptoms than when I was initially diagnosed, that’s difficult.
“There are small signs of things to come, I have to get my head around that.
“I’ve benefitted massively from speaking to people who also have MND. It helps you and gives you that strength.”
A fundraising target of £777,777, which will surely be beaten, has been set with the money being split between six charities – mainly the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity’s appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.
However, there will also be donations to MND Scotland, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation plus support for the 4ED campaign.
You can donate by visiting:
https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield-ultra-7-in-7-challenge
Source: Read Full Article
