Sinfield in Yorkshire for latest MND ultramarathon

Kevin Sinfield has completed the fourth of seven ultramarathons in seven days to raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND).

The rugby league legend set off from Bramall Lane stadium, the home of Sheffield United, at about 08:30 GMT, cheered on by supporters.

At about noon, he broke from the route to run two laps of Don Valley Bowl alongside members of the MND community.

Before setting off, he told the crowd: "You can run, you can walk, you can get pushed, you can be on sticks – it's your way of doing your little battle today, we've all done it together.

"Thank you, because the power of us coming together will be what beats this, the money that's coming in will be what gets us there."

The 45-year-old is completing an ultramarathon of at least 45km (27.9 miles) each day of his challenge, in bursts of 7km (4.3 miles).

Sinfield is running in memory of his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, who died in June 2024 after being diagnosed with MND in 2019.

Andrew Gough was diagnosed with MND in April last year and said he experienced symptoms for almost a decade before the official diagnosis.

"It is a cruel disease, and it needs a cure," he said.

"The only way we're going to get there is through awareness, everything that Kevin is doing - he's an amazing chap."

• Where to see Sinfield's challenge in Yorkshire

Vinnie Edwards, who was also diagnosed last year, said the day had been "emotional but great".

"I'm grateful for these people behind me that help me, what Kevin's done to help me," he said.

On day three of the challenge in South Wales, Sinfield met the family of 14-year-old Kyle Sieniawski, who died last week after being diagnosed with MND in January.

He told supporters in Sheffield: "We've got to stick together and find a cure to this.

"We've got to help people who are living with MND now, or who are going to be diagnosed tomorrow.

"There's going to be six people diagnosed today, last week we lost a 14-year-old lad. It can't happen anymore."

As of 15:45, Sinfield's fundraising total for the challenge had passed £695,000.

He began his challenge in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk on Monday, running to Ipswich, before taking on his second ultramarathon in Cork the following day.

Sinfield was back in the UK on Wednesday to complete an ultramarathon in Swansea.

The end point for Thursday's run was the University of Sheffield's Institute for Translational Neuroscience, which researches treatment for neurological disorders including MND.

The route took him to Abbeydale, the home of Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club and Sheffield RUFC, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, the English Institute of Sport and Hillsborough stadium.

On Friday, he will run from Workington to Whitehaven before heading to Dundee on day six.

The final day of the "7 in 7" challenge will see Sinfield run from North Yorkshire to Leeds, finishing at Headingley Stadium, the home of Leeds Rhinos.

Last month the Rob Burrow Centre for MND opened in Leeds, dedicated entirely to MND care, research, education and holistic support.

The facility was paid for in part through Sinfield's fundraising, which now stands at more than £10m.

Additional reporting by Simon Thake.

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