Rob Burrow: Money raised by Kevin Sinfield seven marathons to fund MND research
Ex-Leeds Rhino player Kevin Sinfield and Chris James from the MND Association spoke to Duncan Wood
Money raised by Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield for team-mate Rob Burrow who was diagnosed motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019, will help fund research into the condition.
Sinfield ran seven marathons in seven days and raised £2.2m in support of Burrow, who is living with the illness.
Over half the money raised from Kevin Sinfield's incredible '7 in 7' marathon challenge will be used to provide direct support to families affected by MND.
The MND Association has now announced that £1.25m of the funds raised will be directed to frontline support services, including support for children and families as well as funding for care centres and a support hotline.
A further £655,000 will go towards further research to better understand and treat MND. The MND Association had already committed £3million to research this year and Sinfield's efforts in raising awareness has enabled it to invest a further £2m.
The final £300,000 of the money raised by Sinfield will go to local support services in the north of England, the MND Association said.
Sinfield embarked on the '7 in 7' challenge - chosen after the number seven shirt Burrow wore - with the initial intention of raising £77,777, but far exceeded that.
Burrow greeted Sinfield at the finish line of the fifth marathon at the Rhinos' base at Headingley.
Burrow was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List last December in recognition of his work to raise awareness of MND during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kevin Sinfield's next '7 in 7' challenge to raise funds for a motor neurone disease charity looks like being a seven-day walk over a "crazy distance".