Kevin Sinfield will begin his latest ultra-marathon challenge on Monday, running 31 miles daily for a week across England and Ireland to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research. The challenge comes as the family of 14-year-old Kyle Sieniawski, the UK's youngest MND patient, announced his death.
Kyle, from Pontypridd, South Wales, was diagnosed less than a year ago with the rare degenerative condition, which typically affects adults over 50. His family described him as a 'beautiful boy' and 'little superhero' who 'fought with everything he had'.
Sinfield, a former Leeds Rhinos rugby league star, aims to raise £777,777 for MND research in memory of his former teammate Rob Burrow, who died aged 41 in June last year. Each day of the '7 in 7' challenge will honour a local personality who has championed the cause, including former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart, who lives with MND.
The first leg runs from Bury St Edmunds to Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium. Sinfield said: 'We chose to finish at Ipswich Town in tribute to our good friend Marcus Stewart. I know how highly Marcus is thought of at Ipswich and it will be brilliant to see Marcus and his wife Lou at the finish line.'
Sinfield has completed five previous seven-in-seven marathon challenges, raising over £10 million for MND research. The money from this challenge will be split between several MND charities, including the MND Association and the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.
Mike Rogers, a director of research innovation at the MND Association, said: 'During the week of Kevin's challenge alone, another 42 will hear the words, "You have MND". Hearing those words is devastating – we don't yet have effective treatments for most people living with MND – but with the money raised from Kevin's challenges we are getting closer.'
