“Running Home for Christmas”
Rugby League and fundraising legend Kevin Sinfield CBE headed back to the Midlands on the penultimate leg of his latest challenge on Friday 6 December. Sinfield ran in memory of Rob Burrow, who passed away from Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in June this year. This will be Sinfield’s fifth annual challenge for the MND community. Kevin has raised nearly £10 million in the first four events.
The day started at 7am at the MND Association’s Headquarters in Northampton. Then heading north to Leicester, finishing at the home of Leicester Tigers at around 2.30pm. Sinfield was met at Mattioli Woods Welford Road by former Leicester forward Ed Slater. Ed was diagnosed with MND back in 2022.
This year’s challenge has the tagline of ‘Running home for Christmas’ as the seventh day will end in Sinfield’s home area of Saddleworth.
Sinfield was raising money for six MND charities with the MND Association being the primary partner, as well as aiding the associations work in the region. The week long challenge started on Sunday 1 December. Sinfield and the team covering over 50km per day, visiting seven regions across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Each day was broken down into 7km blocks, the number 7 always central to Sinfield’s challenge in recognition of his friend and former team mate Rob Burrow. Rob wore the number during his glittering career alongside Sinfield at Leeds Rhinos. The team will aim to complete each 7km within one hour before the next block must start on the hour. The only rest the team will get between each leg is the time spare after they have completed the block.
Commenting on his new challenge, Sinfield said,
“As a Patron of the MND Association, I know how special the work they do is and it will be lovely to start at the head office and get to personally thank all the staff for their efforts. I have happy memories from my time at Leicester Tigers and I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces at the finish line, especially Ed Slater.”
How to Sponsor
Members of the public can sponsor Sinfield at donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield-and-teams-fundraising or by texting Kevin10 to 70143 to donate £10. For more details of the entire route for the 2024 challenge visit www.therhinos.co.uk/the-club/sinfield-christmas-2024.
Community Stand Together
