Leeds Rhinos director of rugby Kevin Sinfield finishes seven marathons in seven days to support his former team-mate Rob Burrow and the Motor Neurone Disease Association; Sinfield has so far raised more than £1.1m
Monday 7 December 2020 14:37, UK
Kevin Sinfield has completed seven marathons in seven days and raised over £1m for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The tally had passed £1.1m when the Leeds Rhinos director of rugby Sinfield completed his seventh and final marathon on Monday morning in a time of three hours and 41 minutes.
Sinfield is raising money in support of his former Rhinos colleague Rob Burrow, who is fighting the disease. His original target was £77,777.
The pair played together at Leeds in Super League for 15 seasons before Burrow, 38, was diagnosed with the disease 12 months ago.
The number seven features prominently due to it being the one most associated with Burrow throughout his playing career.
Speaking to Sky Sports News after he had finished the final marathon, Sinfield said: "I'm just really happy, completely overwhelmed. Some people thought we were mad but it was really important for us especially in the run-up to Christmas that Rob was in the forefront of everyone's mind.
"It's been a rough year and we wanted to make sure that he's front and centre like he should be, he's got a lovely family and Liz and the kids deserve to enjoy everything they get.
"I think for us - really proud to wear the vest, to have the number seven on the back and to represent the MND Association has been brilliant. They do some absolutely unbelievable work with a disease that just causes havoc and it's so cruel.
"For the six of us to get together and do what we've done this week has been absolutely brilliant, the best week of my life, being back in a team and to have a challenge like this getting myself ready every day to go again and fighting like Rob's got to do and like everyone else has got to do with MND and it's great to get it done.
"The support has been unreal and even today when we set off the messages of support we've had from people all over the UK who've had to handle MND in any shape or form with their families. They ran with us today, they fuelled that running.
"The sooner there's a cure for this disease the better because it's the cruellest of cruel diseases."
Sky Sports rugby league pundit Terry O'Connor reveals his admiration for what Kevin Sinfield is doing to raise money and awareness for Rob Burrow and the Motor Neurone Disease Association:
"I think Kevin Sinfield has always been a leader - a clean-living lad on and off the field. He's a person who inspires everybody around him. For me, he's Leeds Rhinos' greatest ever captain - a champion in every sense of the word.
"I remember talking to him a few months ago when he decided to take on this challenge and I was flabbergasted with what he was intending to do. I even questioned whether it would be too much.
"Kevin's response? "A challenge isn't a challenge, unless it's challenging". I'll never forget that response, which is a mark of the man.
"The strapline for this challenge should be 'One in a Million'. After all, how many other people would be able to complete this challenge? If anyone spoke to Sir Mo Farah or any long-distance runners, I'll bet the house that their training would not enable them to do seven marathons in seven days."
