23 November 2022 Fundraising
Rugby league legend and Motor Neurone Disease Association patron Kevin Sinfield has completed the third in his epic trilogy of challenges, adding another £2 million to the total he’s raised to support the fight against motor neurone disease (MND).
Seven days after embarking on his Ultra 7 in 7 challenge, Kevin and his support team crossed the finish line at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, on Saturday 19 November. He was greeted by a standing ovation from the 70,000-strong crowd at the men’s Rugby League World Cup final.
Kevin’s 280-mile route took him from Edinburgh to Manchester and saw him run more than 40 miles every day for a week. To honour his friends living with MND – Rob Burrow MBE, Stephen Darby and Doddie Weir – Kevin mapped the route to stop in places of significance for the trio of former sportsmen.
Crowds lined the streets from before sunrise each day to cheer Kevin on, with many donating generously to his fundraising challenge, raising money for the MND Association and four other MND charities.
We’ve met some incredible people along the journey from Edinburgh. There’s one thing for sure – that our country cares. It cares about people who need help. And that MND community need us. They need support, they need love. And we’ve got to find a cure. I can’t thank people enough for the support along their side-lines but for voting with their money as well.
Kevin, in an interview with BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent on the finish line at Old Trafford
Throughout the week, Kevin and his team were joined by some famous faces, including former footballer Paul Scholes, England Lioness Gemma Bonner and Olympic runner Steve Cram.
Kevin has been an inspirational figure for me and my wife Rachael for the past few years. He’s just come over and given me a great big hug and given me his shirt, I’m almost speechless but not quite! It’s been a beautiful, beautiful day, and a beautiful memory from such a great man who does so much for other people. What I love about him he does it with such humility and such a sense of class. There’s a sense of hope for us now, which I don’t think was there three years ago. That’s what today is about for us I think.
Ian Flatt, who is living with MND
We didn’t think our patron Kevin Sinfield could do more than he already had for people living with MND and the MND Association – but we were wrong. His Ultra 7 in 7 Challenge has surpassed anything we could ever have expected and I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to thank him enough for his amazing efforts on behalf of the entire MND community. It was an absolute honour to be on route to cheer him on. Yet again Kev has demonstrated his determination and passion to help people affected by MND, whatever the personal cost, inspired by his friendship with Rob Burrow, a fellow MND Association patron.
Sally Light, Chief Executive of the MND Association