Sir Kevin Sinfield became visibly emotional during the BBC documentary Thank You Sir Kev, revealing that he felt he "needed to release" those who supported him throughout his 7 in 7 Challenge, which raised vital funds and awareness for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) community. The programme aired on Monday night and includes heartfelt tributes from those who have witnessed his fundraising efforts.
Fundraising Journey Since 2020
Sinfield, 46, began raising money for MND in 2020 after his former Leeds Rhinos teammate and close friend Rob Burrow was diagnosed with the condition. Burrow passed away in 2024 at the age of 41. Since then, Sinfield has raised more than £13 million through a series of physically demanding ultramarathon challenges, covering over 2,000 kilometres.
The documentary features contributions from former England rugby star Lewis Moody, ex-Premier League footballer Marcus Stewart, Rob Burrow's widow Lindsey, and the Prince of Wales. It also showcases Sinfield's parents, Ray and Beryl, who recall memories of his childhood and early exposure to sport.
Emotional Tribute to Support Team
Sinfield grew emotional when discussing the completion of his final challenge, having recently accomplished seven ultramarathons across seven consecutive days at the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford earlier this month. He paid tribute to his support team, saying: "I needed to release them from me. I'm in it for life and I made that commitment. But they don't have to be. They all knew Rob and love Rob, but bought into something to support me and I."
He paused to compose himself before adding: "It's been a big commitment for them all. I feel like I need to release them from it. Go, get on with your lives. Been apart of something that's been incredible, that has hopefully made a difference. But if you want to carry on, I'll still be here."
Tributes from Prince William and Others
Prince William featured prominently throughout the documentary, praising Sinfield's humility. He said: "That lack of ego is really important in a world where everyone wants to show how amazing they are. I think Kevin does it very quietly and just doesn't want to be the centre of attention, but ultimately has a huge impact."
Sinfield's fundraising efforts have enabled the creation of a purpose-built MND centre in Leeds. Gill Sirmaloglou, who describes herself as amongst the facility's earliest patients, said: "What you've done defies words. It will change a lot of peoples' lives for the better." Doctor Jung, who served as Burrow's consultant, added: "When I used to speak to people about MND, they would not know what it was. And now, everybody does. And that has only happened because Rob has gone public with it and Kevin has continued with it, every step, every day he is uniting the country really. It's not just uniting the MND community, he's united the country."
Macy, Burrow's eldest daughter, remarked: "I just think the centre is incredible. It's exactly what my dad and doctor Jung imagined it to be and it just gives that little bit of extra hope to families. Thanks to Kev and everyone who has fundraised, people can now come as it's a safe space. It's really nice to see and I'm sure my dad would definitely be smiling."
