Former England Rugby Captain Kevin Sinfield, 41, is attempting to run 101 miles in 24 hours to raise money for those impacted by motor neurone disease.  

Sinfield, who joined the coaching staff at Premiership Rugby Union side Leicester Tigers earlier this year, will run from the Tigers’ home stadium Mattioli Woods Welford Road to Leeds Emirates Headingley Stadium.

He will attempt to run the mammoth-101 miles in 24 hours next month to raise £100,000 for the MND Association and The Rob Burrow Centre for MND.

His friend and former team-mate Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in December 2019 and has since focused on fundraising for the cause.

Sinfield raised over £2.7 million by completing seven marathons in seven days with a team last December.

“Undoubtedly this will the toughest challenge I have ever attempted, but I know it will mean so much to so many people if we can reach our fundraising target,” Sinfield said.

“In my short time at the Tigers, the people in Leicester have made me feel so welcome and it is wonderful that we have been able to come up with an event that starts in Leicester and finishes with us coming home to Emerald Headingley.

“The more money we can raise, the more people we can help and ultimately find a cure for this cruel disease.”

Along with his team, Sinfield will start the challenge on Monday November 22, completing seven kilometres within an hour so that the next kilometre can begin on the hour.

“I am sure there will be tough times as we pound the streets during the day and night, in cold November temperatures, but knowing the good we can all achieve together will be a huge motivation for everyone involved,” he said.

Initially, they had planned to run 100 miles, but the distance between the stadiums is 101, and so the run has been named The Extra Mile Challenge.

Donations will be split between the Leeds Hospitals Charity appeal, which is building the Rob Burrow Centre for MND, providing support to people and their families, and the MND Association, which funds care and research across the country.