Kevin Sinfield has raised millions of pounds in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND) since his best friend, Rob Burrow, was diagnosed with the incurable illness in 2019. The former rugby league star died in 2024 at the age of 41, leaving Sinfield heartbroken.
The pair were team-mates at Leeds Rhinos for many years and enjoyed an unshakable friendship before Burrow's death. Since the diagnosis, Sinfield has made it his personal mission to raise money by completing a number of gruelling endurance challenges.
Sinfield's last words to Burrow
Sinfield recently recalled his final interaction with Burrow, which took place the day before he died, and fought back tears as he revealed his final words to his close friend.
Appearing on the High Performance Podcast, he said: "The last day I saw him was the day before he passed and it was tough. I was in an England rugby camp and got the message.
"I knew all week he'd been poorly and got the message he was close, so I got back up north and went to see him. And as I looked through the little window to his private room he was fast asleep with breathing apparatus on.
"Anyway I crept in and saw his mum and his sister and I sat with him and he woke up. So I did what I normally did: I tried to make him laugh and told him what I was up to. It was really sad. Sad, but beautiful.
"We both knew it was the last time. I knew, I was pretty sure and I'm pretty sure he did too. The minute he opened his eyes he had the biggest smile. I always got a smile regardless of what was going on.
"It was his way of saying that everything's alright and no matter what's going on in life, what's weighing heavy on you, what you're mulling over, it doesn't matter.
"It was his way of saying to just get on with living and loving and taking some risks. In the final interaction I kissed his forehead and told him I loved him."
Promise to Burrow's family
Earlier this week, Sinfield appeared on BBC Breakfast and promised Burrow's family that he would continue his fundraising efforts for the rest of his life.
Discussing his next challenge, 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."
New fundraising challenge
Sinfield is taking his next fundraising challenge to Australia and New Zealand. It will take place at some point in 2027, with exact timings still to be confirmed.
He will once again complete seven marathons in seven days and wants to pull together both rugby codes to complete the challenge.
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.
"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.
"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."
