Kevin Sinfield makes strong start to MND challenge before arrival into York
Sir Kevin Sinfield in Market Weighton on day one of the 7 in 7: The Grand Finale 2026 Challenge in Hull (Image: Martin Rickett / PA Wire)
SIR Kevin Sinfield was joined by former England senior men's football manager Sir Gareth Southgate today near York as he completed the first stage of his final running endurance event to raise money for motor neurone disease charities, with almost £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.
Sinfield is completing an ultra-marathon every day for seven days in his '7 in 7: The Grand Finale' venture, starting today (Sunday, September 27).
Sinfield set off 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.
Former England boss Southgate also joined Sinfield's team during the run towards the finish.
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.
“We can’t do it on our own, and you just being here today makes it all worthwhile,” Sinfield said in a video published on Leeds Rhinos’ X account.
“We all lose people we love and care about, but we lose people in the MND community too soon – we have got to start to change that.
“That is what our team is trying to do, alongside people like Sir Gareth and others who will join up this week, trying to raise awareness and funds.”
Sir Kevin Sinfield joined with Sir Gareth Southgate outside the Bay Horse Inn in Market Weighton on day one of the 7 in 7: The Grande Finale 2026 Challenge (Image: Martin Rickett / PA Wire)
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.
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.
Sir Kevin Sinfield embraced by Sir Gareth Southgate who joined him along the first stage of the event to raise money for motor neurone disease charities (Image: Martin Rickett / PA Wire)
When Sinfield had completed his first ultra marathon of the event, the fundraising tally had reached around £499,800, well on the way to the £777,777 target.
Monday's leg will head on to York and the LNER Community Stadium, the home of the York City and the Knights, with the finish at Bishopthorpe Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of York.