A rugby legend is set to kick off his mammoth ultramarathon challenge for charity from a town rugby club.
Kevin Sinfield, 45, known for his playing career with Leeds Rhinos and the England rugby league side, will begin his latest charity effort at 8.40am tomorrow at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club
Since his retirement, Kevin has been a prominent fund-raiser for causes related to motor neurone disease (MND), after his former teammate and friend Rob Burrow was diagnosed in 2019.
Kevin Sinfield will start his ‘7 in 7: Together’ ultramarathon challenge for MND charities tomorrow. Picture: 7 in 7
He died from complications related to it in 2024, aged 41.
Kevin has never been to Bury before but is aware of the big rugby community in the town.
Speaking in a press conference on Monday, he said: “Bury has a fantastic rugby club and I’m really looking forward to starting my challenge there.
Kevin will start his challenge at 8.40am tomorrow at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club. Picture: Cameron Reid
“Wherever we have been, we have had wonderful send-offs, so it would be great to get a wonderful send-off, but more importantly for the MND community.
“Being there in the cold and wet on a December Monday morning isn’t great for anybody, but it makes a huge difference for us and how it looks on TV when the MND community will be sat at home.
“To see so many people come out and support will make a huge difference in homes right across the UK.
Kevin is known for his time with Leeds Rhinos and England’s rugby league side. Picture: 7 in 7
“If the whole of Bury St Edmunds is at the rugby club on Monday morning, I will be absolutely chuffed to bits.
“However, the reality is I am sure there will be kids going to school that morning and plenty of people at work.”
So far, in his different challenges, Kevin has raised more than £10 million. In this iteration, he and his team will visit new locations, which could be overlooked by major events, so the MND community know they are not forgotten.
The East Anglia route will finish at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium, in tribute to former Tractor Boys striker Marcus Stewart, who is living with the disease.
The timetable for the first day of Kevin Sinfield’s ‘7 in 7: Together’ challenge. Picture: 7 in 7
“Marcus is very inspirational and I’m delighted I can call him a friend,” Kevin said.
Kevin will run seven ultramarathons in seven days across seven regions. After East Anglia, he will take on Cork, Swansea, Sheffield, Cumbria and Dundee, before the final leg will go from Queen Ethelburgas to Leeds.
He said: “The best thing about this challenge is bringing the MND community together and helping them feel loved and supported. It’s a big team effort.
“The primary aim is to raise money and awareness. The donations are what are going to help families now and get that cure sooner.
How to get involved with Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7 challenge. Picture: 7 in 7
“We can’t thank people enough for the support and donations they’re given over the years.”
To bring the atmosphere to the start of the challenge, Bury Rugby Club will be selling breakfast in the clubhouse from 6.30am, while a DJ will get the party started.
The club has also made MND its charitable focus for December, and will have in-clubhouse buckets, bobble hat raffles and more to support its overall contribution to the cause and Kevin’s efforts.
In 7 in 7: Together, Kevin will be raising money for six different MND charities.
Each ultramarathon will have an ‘Extra Mile’ segment where members of the MND community will join him for a one-mile block.
Each day will be broken down into seven-kilometre blocks, which he must complete inside the hour before setting off on the next block.
