Sir Kevin Sinfield was the 'legend' of Ladies' Day at York's Ebor Festival as donations for his marathon-of-marathons challenge came in after a race was named in his honor. Horse racing fans pledged their winnings to the rugby star's latest 200-mile trek before he has even begun the challenge.
Race Named in His Honor
Racing chiefs honored his achievements by naming one of the showpiece events on Ladies' Day The Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Stakes. Kevin received two standing ovations as he addressed the crowd from the winners' enclosure about his battle to find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease, which claimed the life of his Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow, and to help families of 8,000 other sufferers in the UK.
He famously carried Rob over the Leeds Marathon finishing line in 2023 after pushing him in a specially-adapted wheelchair around the 26.2-mile course. Rob died the following year aged 41 following a six-year battle with the degenerative nerve condition. This year will be Kevin's seventh and final multi-marathon challenge, matching the No7 pal Rob wore on his shirts.
Support and Donations
Kevin, 45, now an England rugby union coach, appeared at the Ebor Festival to present the trophy to the owners of race winner The Lost King. He said: "It's great to be here today. The support we've had in York has been amazing for the last couple of years. What we've found is we've got to keep fighting to make a difference. The families haven't been looked after well enough. And we've lost people along the way too quickly. Clearly we want to find a cure. But taking care of families along that journey is really important too."
Modest Kevin said he believed he had 'got lucky' with his fundraising campaign. "We set out right at the end of Covid and there were no other charity events taking place. At the time we didn't even have crowds at sporting events," he said. "I think people had a lot of furlough money they couldn't spend and decided to support us. We were out running in the first week of December and we couldn't believe the support. A lot of that was down to the Burrow family and the way they opened their doors and let people in to see what MND does. The support across the UK now - as soon as they start to understand the MND journey it grabs people. We could never have dreamt of where we are today. The support has been immense. We are just really really grateful."
The crowd clapped, cheered and immediately began donating their cash to the cause via a QR code printed on the Ladies' Day racing card. Last night the fund already boasted £65,000 towards Kevin's goal of raising £777,777, and he does not set off for a month.
Public Reaction
One donor calling themselves York Racegoer pledged a tenner, saying: "Go smash it team." Another called 'Kind Man Of York' sent a tenner. While a third said: "Great effort, donated after seeing Kevin interviewed on ITV at York races." A £20 donor wrote: "You're making a huge difference to help find a cure for this awful condition." One more said: "Sir Kev, what a legend."
Social worker Sammie Simpson, 39, from Leeds, attending Ladies' Day with her son Eddie, 15, said they lived near a new MND centre in the city which cash Kevin raised helped build. "What an unbelievable effort," she said. "It's so worthwhile having such a good cause at the races. It's wonderful." Claire Bell, 43, from Huddersfield, West Yorks, said: "It's really inspirational. I think it's fantastic that racing has honoured him." IT software technician Lee Wild, 44, from Leeds, said: "I know where everybody's winnings will be going today. And what a great cause. Every Ladies's Day needs a hero it's our Kev."
Upcoming Challenge
Kevin's fundraising was rewarded with a knighthood in June following a Daily Star campaign backed by darts world champion Luke Littler, 19, who has donated thousands of pounds of his winnings to the cause, TV presenter Piers Morgan, 61, House of Commons' speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, 69, and Rob's widow Lindsey, 42. The race-name sponsorship was donated by Sky Bet to raise awareness of his latest challenge which kicks off at rugby league World Club Champions Hull KR's Sewell Group Craven Park stadium on September 27. He will then visit the homes of the 11 other Super League clubs before arriving in front of 70,000 fans at Old Trafford, Manchester, in time for the kick off of the sport's Betfred Grand Final on October 3.
He and pal Rob won seven of them together for Leeds Rhinos. The man of the match is presented with the Rob Burrow Trophy. Among the charities set to benefit from Kevin's latest trek is the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation created by the late Scottish rugby star Doddie Weir who also suffered from MND. The foundation has already been a racing beneficiary thanks to thoroughbred Doddiethegreat whose owner Kenny Alexander donated the prize money from his Pertemps Final victory at last year's Cheltenham Festival to the charity. In June England rugby World Cup winner Lewis Moody, 48, who was diagnosed with the condition 10 months ago, raised £640,000 for the cause by taking part in a 500-mile bike ride from Newcastle to Twickenham.
Ahead of his 'grand finale' Kevin said: "In every village, town and city in between we'll be meeting members of the MND community - a community which has been at the very heart of these challenges for the past seven years. Every hill, every brutal mile will raise awareness of MND and ensure everyone affected by this terrible disease knows they are loved and supported. Every pound raised will help the fight against MND by funding more research and support for those who need it right now."
