The Prince of Wales has sent a heartfelt message of support to former rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield, who is on the brink of completing a gruelling series of seven ultramarathons in just seven days.
A Royal Salute to Relentless Fundraising
In a personal note shared on social media, Prince William offered his "huge congratulations" to Sinfield as he approached the finish line of his monumental 7 in 7: Together challenge. The Prince described the feat as "incredible" and praised Sinfield's dedication to his late friend Rob Burrow and all those living with motor neurone disease (MND) as "truly inspiring." He signed off with a characteristically practical note of caution, writing: "Look after those knees! W."
The Epic Challenge for a Vital Cause
Sinfield, a coach with the England rugby union team, began his sixth annual fundraising endeavour on Monday. The challenge, named after Burrow's old shirt number, involves running an ultramarathon each day. He is scheduled to complete the final leg on December 7 at AMT Headingley Stadium, home of the Leeds Rhinos, combining with the Leeds Santa Dash event.
This year's effort has already smashed its initial target, raising over £777,777 for MND charities. In total, Sinfield's relentless campaigning has generated a staggering more than £10 million for research into the incurable disease and for support services for affected families.
A Legacy of Friendship and Awareness
The campaign's roots lie in the diagnosis of Sinfield's former Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow, with MND in 2019. The two men were jointly honoured by Prince William in January 2024, when he invested them as Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBEs) at Headingley. Tragically, Burrow died five months later at the age of 41.
Prince William honoured a promise to Burrow by returning to Leeds last month to officially open the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease. He was joined by Sinfield, Burrow's widow Lindsey, and their three children, Macy, Maya, and Jackson.
Sinfield's commitment was memorably symbolised in 2023 when he carried his friend over the finish line of the Leeds Marathon, a powerful image of solidarity that continues to drive the fight against MND forward.
