Rugby legend Kevin Sinfield will visit York during his seventh and final running challenge to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND) charities.
Sinfield, 45, will finish in York on the second day of the challenge on Monday, September 28.
He will run to York from Shiptonthorpe, near Market Weighton, after arriving in the East Yorkshire village from Hull.
Sinfield and his team will depart Shiptonthorpe for Bishopthorpe Palace on September 28, calling at the University of York, LNER Community Stadium for a visit to newly-promoted York Knights, then passing York Minster and York Racecourse on their way to the finish line at the palace.
The rugby great has completed six endurance challenges, having been inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years.
Sinfield arrived in York during previous running challenges, including in November 2022 and December 2023 when hundreds of people greeted him outside the Minster on both occasions.
Recalling arriving at the Minster in November 2022, Sinfield told a crowd at York Barbican in April: “It was a surreal ending.
“Christmas time, coming down the cobbled streets and finishing outside the Minster with so many people there, with so many friends, smiling faces. It was Charles Dickensesque.
“I’m forever grateful for the support I’ve had in York.
“Everyone thinks that Leeds should be the special place and should be the special finish, but I have to say York has been one of the best.”
Sinfield’s latest test will see him try to complete an ultra marathon every day for seven days, where he will start at Hull KR and call in at the grounds of the 11 other English top-flight rugby league clubs along the way.
The ‘7 in 7: The Grand Finale’ venture is set to finish on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final.
Recommended reading:
- ‘A surreal ending’ – rugby legend Kevin Sinfield on arriving in York during challenge
- Kevin Sinfield gives 'full support' to Paul Bradley's family
- Kevin Sinfield arrives at Minster on MND challenge
Sinfield, who has raised more than £11million for the MND community, told BBC Breakfast: “Our team have done a wonderful job. I couldn’t have done any of it without them, they are so unselfish in the way they’ve gone about this.
“We couldn’t have done this on our own. The money has gone a long way and we’re getting closer and closer but we’ve got to keep pushing, we’ve got to try and find a cure.”
Each day will be separated into 7km blocks, which Sinfield has to complete within the hour, while the Extra Mile event will return, with Sinfield running a mile each day alongside those impacted by MND.
After leaving Bishopthorpe on day three, Sinfield will take in the homes of Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity, as well as travelling near Burrow’s home in Pontefract, while the fourth day is set for trips to Leeds’ Headingley, Bradford Bulls’ Odsal and Huddersfield Giants’ Accu Stadium.
He will cross the Pennines on day five and visit Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards on the penultimate day.
The finale will set off from St Helens, calling at Warrington Wolves, before heading to Old Trafford in time for kick-off in the Super League Grand Final.
Share