Kevin Sinfield, the revered former Leeds Rhinos rugby league star, has once again captured the nation’s attention with a feat of endurance and compassion that transcends sport. On December 7, 2025, Sinfield completed his latest epic charity challenge: running seven ultramarathons in seven days, all to raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND), a cause deeply personal to him following the loss of his close friend and teammate Rob Burrow to the disease earlier this year.
The challenge, dubbed the “7 in 7: Together 2025 Challenge,” began on December 1 at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club in East Anglia. Sinfield and his team traversed the UK and Ireland, with each day’s route covering at least 45 kilometers (27.9 miles), and sometimes more, in bursts of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) — a nod to Burrow’s iconic shirt number. Over the course of the week, Sinfield covered a staggering 300 kilometers (185 miles), pushing through rain, wind, and even floodwaters that forced him to improvise by donning bin bags over his trainers on the final day. According to the Daily Mail, “Sloshing through the streets with bin bags on his trainers, super-fundraiser Kevin Sinfield was never going to let a little flood water stop him from completing his latest epic challenge.”
Each day, Sinfield was joined by members of the MND community, who ran a mile alongside him, symbolizing the collective fight against a disease that, as Sally Hughes from the MND Association noted, continues to devastate families. “Sadly since Monday, 42 people will have been diagnosed with MND and over 40 will have died this week, so we’ve got to stop this,” Hughes told ITV News.
The journey took Sinfield and his supporters across the home nations. After starting in East Anglia, they traveled to Cork, Ireland, in honor of broadcaster Charlie Bird, who died from MND in 2024. Day three saw them circuit Swansea in Wales, before returning to Yorkshire for a run from Bramall Lane in Sheffield to the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) — a world-leading MND research center — on day four. The fifth stage led them from Workington to Whitehaven in Cumbria, and on the sixth day, Sinfield ran from Carnoustie Golf Club into Dundee, Scotland, finishing at Dens Park stadium. The final leg began at Queen Ethelburga’s College near York at 8:40 am on December 7, winding through flood-hit Cattall, Linton, Wetherby, East Rigton, and Barsey before entering Leeds.
As Sinfield approached Leeds, anticipation built among supporters and the wider rugby community. For the last few kilometers, he was joined by thousands of participants in the annual Leeds Santa Dash, including triathlete Jonny Brownlee and boxer Josh Warrington. The festive crowd, clad in Santa costumes, brought a sense of unity and celebration to the emotional finale. Sinfield arrived at the Rhinos’ AMT Headingley Stadium around 3 pm, where hundreds of fans packed the North and West stands, braving driving rain to cheer him across the finish line.
Upon completing the challenge, Sinfield addressed the crowd with characteristic humility and gratitude. “It’s been an incredible week, it’s been tough and I’m tired but I’m glowing inside because we’ve put so much in for a long time now,” he said, as reported by ITV News. “We’ve been to England, we’ve been to Wales, to Scotland, to Ireland and Northern Ireland – the home nations care about the MND community. We’ve seen that because people have followed us in their droves, they’ve been roadside, they’ve come to our locations in the rain and they want to help. We’ve won the battle this week, but there’s a war to be won. We’ve got to keep fighting.”
The outpouring of support was not just emotional but financial. Sinfield and his team smashed their ambitious fundraising target of £777,777, raising more than £1.15 million during the week. The funds will be distributed among several organizations dedicated to MND research and support, including the 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. This week’s achievement brings Sinfield’s total fundraising for MND causes over the years to an astonishing £11 million, as highlighted by the Daily Mail.
The challenge was as much about honoring Rob Burrow’s legacy as it was about raising funds. Sinfield and Burrow met at the Leeds Rhinos academy as teenagers and went on to play professionally together, forging a friendship that would inspire a nation. Burrow was diagnosed with MND in December 2019 at age 36 and dedicated his final years to raising awareness and funds for the disease before his death in July 2024. Sinfield’s devotion to his friend was perhaps most poignantly displayed when he carried Burrow over the finish line at the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2023 — an image that resonated across the UK and beyond.
Sinfield’s efforts have not gone unnoticed at the highest levels. On December 6, Prince William publicly praised Sinfield’s commitment, describing it as “truly inspiring.” Writing on X, the Prince said: “Kevin, huge congratulations on nearing the finish of your incredible 7 in 7 challenge! Your commitment to Rob and everyone affected by MND is truly inspiring. Thank you for shining a light on the need for research and support, and for the hope and example you bring. Look after those knees!” Earlier this year, both Sinfield and Burrow were made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of their tireless advocacy.
The impact of Sinfield’s challenges goes far beyond the money raised. Kath Muir, who lives with MND, told ITV News: “These challenges over the last 5 years have taken MND from a hardly-heard-of disease to a disease that is much better understood. And also because of the money raised it is helping more families affected than by MND.”
Sinfield’s determination in the face of adversity — whether it’s relentless rain, flooded roads, or the emotional toll of losing a friend — has galvanized a community and shone a spotlight on a disease that too often remains in the shadows. As fan Tim Nicholson quipped to the Daily Mail after Sinfield crossed the finish line, “I don’t know how he does it. I struggle to walk never mind run.”
With the 7 in 7: Together 2025 Challenge now complete, Sinfield has once again demonstrated that the power of friendship, community, and sheer will can move mountains — and, just maybe, bring the world one step closer to defeating MND.
