Kevin Sinfield reveals route for latest MND fundraising challenge

20 November 2024

Rugby League and fundraising legend Kevin Sinfield CBE will kick off his latest fundraising challenge in Liverpool on Sunday 1 December, as he sets off to run over 230 miles in seven days across seven regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Kevin will run in memory of his friend Rob Burrow, who passed away from motor neuron disease (MND) in June this year. This will be Kevin’s fifth annual challenge for the MND community having raised nearly £10 million in the first four events.

This year’s challenge has the tagline of ‘Running home for Christmas’ as the seventh day will end in Kevin’s home area of Saddleworth, and he will be raising money for six MND charities including My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

The week-long challenge will start on 1 December with Kev and the team covering over 50km per day, visiting seven regions across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Each day will be broken down into 7km blocks, the number 7 as always central to Kevin’s challenge in recognition of his friend and former team mate Rob Burrow, who wore the number during his glittering career alongside Kevin at Leeds Rhinos. The team will aim to complete each 7km within one hour before the next block must start on the hour, meaning the only rest the team will get between each leg is the time spare after they have completed the block.

The challenge will once again see the return of the Extra Mile events from last year’s 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge, when members of the MND community joined Kevin and the team to complete their own mile.

Commenting on his new challenge, Kevin said: “This year’s event will be particularly poignant having lost Rob in June but our commitment to Rob’s memory is to continue to support the MND community. We are looking forward to meeting more people than ever from the MND community throughout the week and giving them the opportunity to continue to bang the drum for MND.

The Scottish leg of Kevin’s challenge will see him in Glasgow on Wednesday 4th December, starting at Ibrox and ending at Scotstoun. Kevin said: “Our visits to Scotland are always very special. Doddie was such an inspiration to us all and he is always on our mind during each challenge. Our running top that day will feature Doddie’s famous tartan, which we are always proud to wear.”

Members of the public can sponsor Kevin at https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield-and-teams-fundraising or by texting Kevin10 to 70143 to donate £10. For more details of the entire route for the 2024 challenge visit www.therhinos.co.uk/the-club/sinfield-christmas-2024