Sports star and legendary fundraiser Kevin Sinfield is back in York tomorrow (Monday, 28 September) as part of another huge challenge.
Today he was joined by former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate along the first stage of his final running endurance event to raise money for motor neurone disease charities, with more than £500,000 pledged so far.
Inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four and a half years, Sinfield and his team have raised more than £11 million for the MND community since his first annual challenge in 2020.
Tomorrow’s leg will head on to York and the LNER Community Stadium, the home of the Knights, as well as York Minster and York Racecourse, with the finish at Bishopthorpe Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of York.
He will be joined at the University of York athletics track by the Princess Royal.
Here are the approximate timings for tomorrow and Tuesday.
Monday 28th September – Shiptonthorpe to Bishopthorpe
| Venues | Approx Arrival Time | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|
| Shiptonthorpe Village Hall | N/A | 08:40 |
| The Old Forge Tea Rooms – Pocklington | 09:11 | 09:40 |
| Layby Stop (Hull Road) – Wilberfoss | 10:17 | 10:40 |
| Layby Stop (Hull Road) – Grimston | 11:16 | 11:40 |
| University of York Athletics Track | 12:15 | 12:40 |
| York Community Stadium | 13:15 | 13:40 |
| York Racecourse | 14:17 | 14:40 |
| Bishopthorpe Palace | 14:55 | N/A |
Tuesday 29th September – Bishopthorpe to Wakefield
| Venues | Approx Arrival Time | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bishopthorpe Palace | N/A | 08:40 |
| Starbucks A64 | 09:16 | 09:40 |
| Tadcaster Magnets Sports Club | 10:11 | 10:40 |
| Roadside off A64 roundabout | 11:15 | 11:40 |
| Makins Enterprise entrance | 12:14 | 12:40 |
| Castleford Lock Lane ARFL | 13:14 | 13:40 |
| Haribo Factory | 14:14 | 14:40 |
| Roadside Black Road | 15:15 | 15:40 |
| DIY Kitchens Stadium | 15:45 | N/A |
Day 2 route
Sinfield is completing an ultra marathon every day for seven days in his ‘7 in 7: The Grand Finale’ venture.
Six charities are set to benefit once again from this year’s fundraising – the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association.
Sinfield(left) with Sir Gareth Southgate after arriving at Shiptonthorpe Village Hall
Each ultra marathon is split into seven kilometre blocks, which must be completed within the hour before starting the next. There will also be an ‘extra mile’ event every day, when Sinfield joins members of the MND community in completing four laps of a running track.
The home grounds of the 12 English Betfred Super League clubs will be visited, before finishing on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final, where his son Jack will play for Wakefield against Warrington.
Sinfield set off on this morning from Hull KR’s Craven Park before heading across the city to the MKM Stadium, the home of Hull FC, and out to Market Weighton, with the first day’s event finishing in Shiptonthorpe.
Sinfield reflected on a “really special day” when he spoke to the crowd gathered outside Shiptonthorpe Village Hall, and thanked everyone for their continued support.