Chris Stephenson, the running partner who first introduced Sir Kevin Sinfield to running a decade ago, has spoken about the humour, team spirit, and tears of their six-year fundraising journey, which has raised £11m for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research.
Stephenson, 56, chief executive of Sports Global Group, has been with Sir Kevin every step of the way since they met in Australia in 2016. By the time they finish this year's final 7 in 7 challenge, they will have run 1,395 miles, more than twice the length of Britain.
Emotional final leg
Stephenson admitted that the last leg of their epic journey will be emotionally charged as they prepare to set off this Sunday from Hull. He recalled one man with MND who came out to see them last year after spending two years trapped inside his home.
"The pain you are suffering disappears when you hear the stories of the people we are doing this for," Stephenson told the Mirror. "That guy had not been out of the house for two years and he wanted to come out and see Kevin. Our pain goes but they have it all their lives and there is no cure for it. That is what keeps us going."
Humour and camaraderie
On Day One last year, Stephenson's toenail fell off, and Kevin decided to tell millions of BBC Breakfast viewers that he had lost it during a pedicure. "That humour gets you through," he said. "In the first run during Covid, we were in the darkness on Saddleworth Moor and there was no one around. Now there are crowds lining the streets to cheer you on. People who cannot afford heating in some of the most deprived areas come out and put a pound in a bucket for us."
"I have been part of the team that has been with Kevin every step of the way. He inspires people to follow him, it has been like that from the first day we met. Kevin says this is the best team that he has ever been a part of, and the humour and camaraderie get you through the pain. It is the most exhausting challenge imaginable but it is also the most exhilarating, and I understand now what you get from team sport."
From Australia to ultramarathons
They went on their first run together in Australia when Kevin became a brand ambassador for Canterbury sportswear. It was 2016, just five weeks after Kevin retired from rugby league after 500 games for Leeds Rhinos. "Running was a new religion for me," Stephenson recalled. "We landed in Australia and after a 28-hour flight, he said, 'What are you doing now?' I said 'I am going for a run,' and he said, 'Can I come?' and he absolutely loved it."
The first run took place in 2020, when they set off from a pub in Oldham, and it was the hardest for Stephenson because it was a journey into the unknown. "No one had done seven ultramarathons in seven days; usually, you do a marathon and cannot get up the next day," he added. "There was no back up team with physios and the body was not used to it. For me, it is getting your mind in the right place."
Kevin's physio David O'Sullivan said that his 'brain is his strongest muscle'. The shy superhero has raised £11million from his previous six fundraising events. He describes his latest effort - seven ultramarathons in seven days - as "doing a bit of running for a mate".
Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow died in 2024 after living with motor neurone disease (MND) for more than four years. Dad-of-two Sir Kevin dreams of winning the lottery to fund a cure for the disease - and buy a new car for his dad Ray - in times of need.
Asked how he handles the mental battle of running more than 30 miles a day, he said: "I dream of winning the EuroMillions. That is my favourite one. It is always the same amount, my dad always gets a new car. Then we cure MND with it." Speaking at Old Trafford where he launched his last fundraiser at the SuperLeague Dream Team event, he admitted that the training "just gets harder" as you grow older. His aim is to help as many MND sufferers as possible. Rob Burrow and his family raised more than £20m for MND research. Sir Kevin has completed an incredible 500km of training over the past few weeks.
The Grand Finale
The 46-year-old will visit all 12 English Betfred Super League grounds from Sept 27 to Oct 3 as he completes seven ultramarathons in seven days. Now an England rugby union coach, he has already completed six epic endurance challenges for MND research. He will start at Hull Kingston Rovers this Sunday, September 28 and call in at the grounds of the 11 other English top-flight rugby league clubs along the way.
The "7 in 7: The Grand Finale" venture is set to finish on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final. As part of his challenge, he will run a mile each day alongside people affected by the neurodegenerative illness. Each day will be separated into 7 km blocks, which Kevin has to complete within an hour. His route will take him across the Pennines on day five, and that day he will visit Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards. The last run sets off at St Helens, calls at Warrington Wolves, and then heads to Manchester.
