Yesterday, former Leeds Rhino player Kevin Sinfield embarked on a gruelling ultra 7 in 7 challenge, which will see the player run from Edinburgh to Manchester in just seven days.
Running almost 40 miles per day, the sporting legend is raising money for Motor Neurone Disease charities, inspired by friend and former team mate Rob Burrow.
So far a whopping £270,000+ has been donated to the cause, but Sinfield hopes to hit £777,777 by the time the week is though. A huge donation of £27,600, £100 for each mile of the ultra marathon has been reportedly donated by Leeds Rhinos biggest sponsors, Leeds Building Society.
The full route has now been published, and you can cheer the former Leeds Rhinos player on as he passes through Melrose, Otterburn, Newcastle, Chester-le-Street, Middlesbrough, Thirsk, York, Tadcaster, Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Oldham before finishing his journey at Old Trafford in Manchester, during the Rugby League World Cup final.
The ‘Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge’ will see the former Rhinos captain to run over 60 km each day in order to reach the destination in time, and will travel through Melrose, Newcastle, York, Bradford, Middlesborough and Leeds before arriving in Manchester.
During the leg from York to Bradford, it has been reported that former team mate Richie Mathers, who played with Sinfield in 2004 Super League Grand Final, will join Sinfield.
The idea is that Sinfield will reach Old Trafford at half-time during the men’s rugby league World Cup final on Saturday 19 November, having set off six days prior on Sunday 13 November 2022.
10 miles complete ✅
30 miles to go on Day 2Share your messages of support for Kevin Sinfield for his #ultra7in7 challenge
Donate 👉 https://t.co/R8XQfsPikn pic.twitter.com/9WcEQuZ434— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) November 14, 2022
Having already raised a whopping £5.5 million for charity from previous challenges, this time, Sinfield aims to raise a further £777,777 for people living with MND, which will be split between Motor Neurone Disease Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and MND Scotland.
The pair played together for Leeds Rhinos. Sinfield played for the team for 18 years and Burrow, 16.
Sinfield told BBC Breakfast this morning that he “want the MND community, Rob, Doddie, Stephen and Ed to know there are people willing to go to some dark places for them”.
👍 https://t.co/R8XQfsPikn pic.twitter.com/6UmVtOCq49
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) November 14, 2022
The challenge will see the money donated split between five different charities that work to support people affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
Two years after his retirement in 2017, Rob Burrow was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a life-changing condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
So far, Sinfield has raised just over £3000 since the announcement less than 24 hours ago, and it is expected this number will only continue to increase as the challenge date looms closer.
You can donate to the Sinfield Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge via the dedicated Give As You Live Page here.
Feature Image- Leeds Rhinos