Kevin Sinfield completes staggering 101-mile run for Rob Burrow and MND

Correspondent
Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow

Kevin Sinfield, with Rob Burrow (left), is interviewed at Headingley Stadum after completing the Extra Mile Challenge from Leicester to Leeds

Former Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield completed his latest fundraising challenge for Rob Burrow and MND by running 101 miles in just 24 hours.

Around 1,000 supporters were at Headingley to witness the completion of his mammoth run from Leicester, where he now works as defence coach with the Tigers.

In addition, Sinfield has raised more than £600,000 for the MND Association and the Leeds Hospitals Charity to build a new care home in name of his former Leeds team-mate Burrow. In December 2019, Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Burrow was at Headingley for the emotional return of Sinfield, who was clearly in discomfort after his gruelling challenge. He has run the equivalent of almost four marathons without sleep.

Speaking after completing the fifth leg near Nottingham, Sinfield said: “We’ve really been buoyed by the support, it’s been incredible, and the weather is great. The rugby gods are shining on us.

“There have been so many people out, from both codes, league and union. The team is in really high spirits but seeing people coming out like they have really picks everybody up.”

Kevin Sinfield completes mammoth challenge

Sinfield’s journey from Leicester to Leeds was split into seven kilometre segments.

In December 2020, Sinfield helped raise over £2.7million by running seven marathons in seven days.

After finishing his run, Sinfield told BBC Breakfast: “It’s been a real team effort from all the crew and I wouldn’t have got it done without them.

“The support along the route has been incredible right from the start. It was certainly a battle – we wanted a battle and we certainly got one. I’m broken – I don’t know when I’ll be able to run again.

“Rob knows how much we love and care about him.”

Sinfield, who was accompanied for the last leg by Burrow’s wife Lindsey and oldest daughter Macy, says he was driven by the presence of his old team-mate.

“It was really tough at times, especially the end, but it’s down to my little mate here,” he said.

The England international was also accompanied during the run by former team-mates Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Gareth Ellis and Barrie McDermott, along with former Labour party communications chief Alastair Campbell and Leeds triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.

READ MORE: The greatest Grand Final performance of all time? Rob Burrow for Leeds in 2011

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