Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7: Together challenge is Cork bound this December
An MND fundraiser and former rugby league player will return to Ireland in December when Cork hosts the second leg of the 7 in 7: Together ultra-marathon challenge.
Kevin Sinfield will complete seven ultra-marathons in seven days across seven cities or regions, raising funds and awareness for those impacted by Motor Neurone Disease (MND). One of the charities benefiting from the campaign is the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).
Since beginning his challenges inspired by his friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, Sinfield has raised over £10 million for MND causes.
The Cork leg will see him cover more than 42 kilometres, starting from Red FM Studios in Bishopstown at 7.40am, and finishing at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh around 1.30pm.
The public are encouraged to line the route, cheer on Kevin, and show support. For safety reasons members of the public cannot join the run.
The visit to Cork has particular significance for Sinfield and his team. Former Rugby League player and coach Paul Darbyshire passed away from MND in 2011 while on the Munster coaching team and is still fondly remembered by the Munster players of that era.
A key member of Sinfield’s support team is physiotherapist David O’Sullivan, whose friend Cathal Deasy from Kilbrittain, West Cork, passed away in November 2024 after a three year battle with MND.
Commenting on the latest challenge, Sinfield said: “Our visits across the Irish Sea have always been one of the highlights of challenges in the last two years.
“It was so special to be joined by Charlie Bird in Dublin in 2023 and we had tremendous support in Belfast last year, especially meeting the family of former Antrim GAA footballer Anto Finnegan. We have some special connections to the city in our team. We can’t wait to get to Cork on 2 December.”
Kevin Burn, CEO of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, added: “We are honoured that Kevin Sinfield continues to include the IMNDA among the charities supported through his incredible fundraising.
“His dedication has shone a light on MND and brought hope and solidarity to people living with the disease and their families right across Ireland. We encourage everyone in Cork to come out, line the streets, and show their support when Kevin and his team arrive in December.”
Each day will include an Extra Mile event where members of the MND community will join Kev for one mile. The ultra-marathon will be broken down into 7km blocks that Sinfield must complete inside the hour, before setting off on the next leg on the hour.
Following completion of Day 2 in Cork, Sinfield will travel to Swansea for the next leg of the week-long challenge, which continues through Sheffield, Cumbria, Dundee and Yorkshire.