'It was the toughest but best week we've all had'

Ex-rugby league star turned charity fundraiser Kevin Sinfield has described completing seven ultramarathons in seven days as "the toughest but the best week".

The former Leeds Rhinos player ran 300km (185 miles) to raise money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in memory of teammate Rob Burrow.

Starting at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club and ending at Headingley Stadium, the 45-year-old said he could not have asked for more support along the way.

"Wherever we've been, people have lined the streets for us, no matter what the weather has been," he said.

"It was a great week. To be able to bring everyone together has been fantastic," he told BBC Breakfast.

On the way supporters came out to offer a hand to the team, including providing bin bags when the ultramarathon runners came across a flooded road in Cattal, North Yorkshire.

"This was quite early on in the day, [and] there's nothing worse than getting wet feet early on," Sinfield said.

"We were given the choice, get in the van or put bin bags on your feet and get through - we couldn't get in the van.

"It added a bit of drama and it was good fun, we all felt like naughty school boys splashing through puddles."

In total, Sinfield and his team raised more than £1.25m during last week's challenge, surpassing their initial target of £777,777.

The money will go to six MND charities including Motor Neurone Disease Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Sinfield said he and his team had been keen to visit areas that "probably don't get the love they deserve".

"We've had the best week and just a big thank you to everybody who has donated, everyone who has supported, everybody who has beeped their horn and lined the streets for us," he said.

"The difference you're making to the MND community is massive and ultimately it's the money that is going to find a cure for us."

Next year will mark the seventh consecutive year of fundraising challenges, and he said plans were already under way.

"The plan is to finish at the Super League Grand Final, which will be 3 October, and finish back where we started," he added.

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