Kevin Sinfield completes latest fundraising challenge in aid of MND

Adam Kyriacou
Kevin Sinfield after finishing on The Mall on day seven of the 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge in London.

Kevin Sinfield after finishing on The Mall on day seven of the 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge in London.

England defence coach and rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield has completed his latest incredible fundraiser for people affected by motor neurone disease (MND).

Sinfield’s final leg of the staggering ‘7 in 7 in 7 Challenge’ saw him jog over the finish line down the Mall in London as he was welcomed by fans near Buckingham Palace.

The arduous challenge has seen him run an ultra-marathon every day for seven days in seven cities – Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, Brighton and London.

An extra mile

43-year-old Sinfield has toughed out a marathon in each city and added one mile on each day to signify the “extra mile” people could go to help their friends in hard times.

“You all know why we’re here. Hopefully we’ve sent the right message out. The MND community is a beautiful community and it needs all of us to keep fighting. The awareness we have generated this week has been enormous again in Rob’s (Burrow) name,” he told the crowd shortly after finishing.

“Fundraising is so important. We tried to push this morning how important the money is because that’s the thing that’s going to shift the dial for us. That’s the thing that’s going to get us a cure.

“It’s also the thing that’s going to make sure families are looked after properly. If there’s one thing you leave with today from our team, it’s that.”

Thursday’s course took Sinfield and his team from Twickenham to Africa Gate on The Mall via Hyde Park, Bond Street, Regent Street, Leicester Square, Tower Bridge, Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square with former England cricketer Stuart Broad and Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood among the guests who joined them.

Their target was to raise £777,777 to help around 5,000 people currently living with MND in the United Kingdom, among them former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Burrow, ex-Gloucester and Leicester forward Ed Slater, former professional footballers Marcus Stewart and Stephen Darby, with the late Doddie Weir, who died at the age of 52 in November last year almost six years after being diagnosed with MND, another inspiration.

Donations plea

As Sinfield untied his shoelaces, the total had passed the £630,000 mark with more than £94,000 pledged in Gift Aid.

Speaking before the final leg of his gruelling challenge, Sinfield told BBC Breakfast: “What’s been really important this week again is the awareness that’s been generated, but as we’ve seen, it’s the money that’s going to make the difference.

“Every spare bit that anybody’s got. if they can donate, it would be much appreciated because these people really need us.

“Yes, we’re alright running, but running doesn’t find a cure, it’s the money that does so if you can donate, please do.”

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England Kevin Sinfield