Sir Kevin Sinfield has raised more than £13million for motor neurone disease (MND) charities through his gruelling physical challenges, and has been officially knighted this week.
The former Leeds Rhinos and England rugby league star was inspired to take up the cause after his former team-mate and close friend Rob Burrow was diagnosed with the life-limiting condition in 2019. The pair worked together to raise awareness until Burrow's death in 2024.
Latest challenge raises £1.6million
Sinfield completed his latest 'seven in seven' endeavour, running seven ultramarathons on consecutive days, over the weekend at the Super League Grand Final. The event generated around £1.6million for MND charities, pushing his fundraising total beyond the £13million mark.
Sinfield has announced plans to take the 'seven in seven' challenge to Australia and New Zealand next year, aiming to bring together both rugby codes to further the fight against MND.
Plans for Australia and New Zealand
Commenting on the announcement, Sinfield said: "We have seen recently in Australia, with the news that both rugby league star Jai Arrow and rugby union international Nathan Charles have been diagnosed with MND, that more needs doing."
He added: "Former AFL star Neale Daniher did an incredible job in raising the profile for the disease in Australia before his passing earlier this year and hopefully we can pull all the football codes together with our week-long challenge."
Commitment for life
Sinfield said: "We have lots of friends in New Zealand, from both codes of rugby, who have sent me messages of support down the years and it would be wonderful to go there too. It is obviously a massive undertaking and we will need the help of partners to deliver it but we are confident we can continue to bang the drum for MND."
Discussing his next challenge on BBC Breakfast, he said: "It has to look different and it has to feel different. I made a commitment for life. I'm in this for life. There'll come a point where I can't run. The team didn't make this commitment. I'd like to go again. It has to look different."
