‘I’m in it for life’
Kevin Sinfield is celebrated both on and off the rugby pitch. After a distinguished playing career, he now focuses on coaching, and, crucially, on raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
His dedication to the cause began five years ago, following the diagnosis of his friend and teammate Rob Burrows in late 2019. It’s a cause we’ve long supported with ACS sponsorship setting the ball rolling.
Now, as he prepares for his latest fundraising feat (seven ultra marathons in seven days!) Kevin opens up about his ongoing commitment to the MND community, what drives him, and his gratitude for the support of ACS.
Unfortunately, MND is a huge issue, with five to six people diagnosed every day in the UK. We must stand and fight together.
That continues with our 6th challenge, as we work in sevens (7in7) as a tribute to the number Rob played in. That commitment continues this year with seven ultra-marathons in seven days, following a special route that honours people affected by MND.
A challenging route
The route is complex with highlights including:
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1st December – East Anglia:
Route from Bury St Edmunds to Ipswich in tribute to former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart, who is living with MND. -
2nd December – Republic of Ireland:
The team arrives in Cork with the Irish MND Association. A moment to remember Charlie Bird and Paul Darbyshire, both of whom lost their lives to MND. -
3rd December – Wales:
Circuit run around Swansea. -
4th December – Sheffield, England:
Ultra-marathon through the Sheffield hills, finishing at SITraN, where pioneering MND research — partly funded by previous challenges — is underway. -
5th December – Cumbria:
Run from Workington to Whitehaven, supported by the region’s passionate Rugby League community. -
6th December – Scotland:
Starting at Carnoustie Golf Course, finishing in Dundee, inspired by the legacy of Doddie Weir. -
7th December – Leeds, England:
Final leg begins in North Yorkshire, finishing at Headingley Rugby Stadium, bringing the journey full circle and honouring Rob’s memory.
‘I’m really looking forward to the way we’re doing it this year, and to meeting so many new people along the way. The timing is poignant too, with MND making the headlines following Lewis Moody’s recent diagnosis, which has really saddened me as it’s again another great man who has to go on this journey.’
Giving Hope
When high-profile people are diagnosed, it sends ripples through the sporting world. Lewis is a lovely guy who had an incredible playing career, and he reminds me in so many ways of Rob. But for every story in the news, there are many more we don’t hear about – so for Lewis to speak out gives the community hope and inspiration.
Lewis’ strength to speak out follows bold and brave people before him – people like Doddie, who spoke out after his diagnosis and encouraged people to work together in a way that hadn’t happened before. Then came Rob’s voice and others, all of which has been amplified by BBC Breakfast which has given amazing coverage each year. That in turn has led to more funding and research – notably by Dame Pam Shaw and SITraN which is right at the heart of this work; SITraN is actually the reason we’ll be running in Sheffield this year too.
The search for a cure
Ultimately, all this effort is to get to where we need to be, and I’m very hopeful that a cure will be found in my lifetime.
I am clearly not trained or smart enough to do the research myself, but I hope we can shine a light on the cause. I didn’t just want to be an ex-rugby player for the rest of my life so I’m happy that people recognise me now for my MND work. People I meet always have a story about MND and that honestly wasn’t the case five years ago; people were ashamed, but now they are willing to share their experiences because they know how it is.
But as motivated as I am, believe me when I say the running doesn’t come easy! There are parts of my body that don’t work as they should, and training must fit around work and family as it does for everyone else. It can be brutal; just last week I did some training through a storm, including three marathons in three days, but you put yourself through it to keep helping people affected by MND, be that Rob, Lewis, Doddie, and every single other sufferer and their families and friends.
Another driver, and one I want to highlight, is the longstanding, unwavering support we’ve had from ACS and the Flannery family. Their initial sponsorship set the ball rolling, and they never hesitate when asked to support us. Without them, this challenge would have been difficult. They’ve been wonderful, and I can’t thank them enough.
This year’s challenge will raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association, Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, MND Scotland, Leeds Hospitals Charity, and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation. Anyone wishing to support Kev can find out more and donate here.
