Sinfield's epic '7 in 7 in 7 Challenge' in support of MND kicks off today

Rugby League legend, Oldham's very own Kevin Sinfield OBE, has pulled on his running trainers again today (Friday) as he begins an epic new challenge to raise awareness and funds to support those impacted by motor neurone disease (MND).

Sinfield recently revealed the routes for his seven incredible ultra marathons that are set to take him across Great Britain and Ireland from this lunchtime until next Thursday, December 7.

Three years to the day since Sinfield started his first 7 In 7 challenge in 2020, his team will leave Leeds Rhinos' AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium at 12 noon today, heading to York Minister in the first leg of the challenge. 

That leg will see him run past Seacroft Hospital in Leeds where the new Rob Burrow Centre for MND will be constructed before heading along the A64 to York via Tadcaster and York Racecourse before arriving at the Minster.

For the first time, the 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge will then take the fundraising to multiple cities. 

On Day Two, the team will travel to Cardiff, finishing the day on the pitch at half time of the United Rugby Championship game between Cardiff and Scarlets at The Arms Park.

The third day, on Sunday, December 3, will start at the Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham, the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games before travelling around Birmingham, calling at St Andrews, Villa Park and Edgbaston en route to a finish in the city centre of Britain’s second city.

On the fourth day, the team will head across the border to Edinburgh, crossing the Forth Road Bridge before finishing at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

This will be a poignant moment as not only will it mark the halfway point of the challenge but also evoke memories of seeing Doddie Weir for the last time a year ago as he set Sinfield and the team off at the start of the Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge.

The team head across the Irish Sea on December 5 to run in Dublin inspired by former Munster Rugby Union coach Paul Darbyshire, who played Rugby League with Warrington and passed away from MND in 2011 when he was just 41.

The team will work with the Irish MNDA for the first time following on from the incredible work done by legendary RTE broadcaster Charlie Bird who raised over €3 million for charity with his Climb with Charlie following his own MND diagnosis.

On December 6, Sinfield will head to the South coast of England to Brighton before concluding the challenge on Thursday, December 7 running from Twickenham Stadium to the Mall, the traditional finish of the world famous London Marathon.

The team are inspired by MND sporting warriors Rob Burrow, Ed Slater, Marcus Stewart, Stephen Darby, the late Doddie Weir and the 5,000 other people living with MND, in the UK right now.

The initial target is to raise £777,777 from the challenge.

Sinfield has said that running the 40 miles (64km) each day would "be my toughest challenge".

"I have not been able to do the amount of training that I have done previously because of my commitments for the World Cup," he said.

"And we have set an ambitious time target to complete each ultra so people know that we will be pushing ourselves to the limit.

"I am looking forward to it and seeing all the support out on the streets once again.

"For the MND community, every second counts and we will be making the most of every step on this challenge to raise awareness, funds and support for that community."

Supporters can show their support now by clicking here, or people can text Kevin10 to 70143 to donate £10 or Kevin20 to the same number to donate £20.

The 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge will support five charities which support and care for people affected by MND and their families, and invest in research to bring us closer to effective treatments and a cure for the disease.

The main beneficiaries will be the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity’s appeal to build the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.

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