Sinfield to run in Cork for MND
An English rugby hero will run an ultra-marathon through Cork city next week to raise money and awareness for those impacted by motor neurone disease.
English rugby union coach and former rugby league player Kevin Sinfield will be on Leeside on 2 December as part of his sixth annual 7 in 7 challenge.
The gruelling challenge will see the 45 year old, who is the current kicking coach for England, run seven ultra marathons in seven days across seven cities or regions in the UK and Ireland.
Each day will also include an ‘Extra Mile’ event when Sinfield will join members of the local motor neurone disease (MND) community in completing four laps of a running track.
The Cork leg will fall on the second day of the challenge, setting out at 7.40am from RedFM’s headquarters in Curraheen and ending at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
In previous challenges, Sinfield took on ultra marathons in Dublin and Belfast and said he can’t wait to take to the streets of Cork.
He said: “I'm really looking forward to going to Cork. I know it's a mad rugby area. The last two years being in Dublin and Belfast have been fantastic.
“The support, the people, the welcome; we couldn't have asked for any more. From the moment we land, everybody is so grateful, everybody is so welcoming and willing to spend time with us.”
Sinfield will again be taking on the 7 in 7 challenge in honour of his close friend and former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow who passed away in 2024 from complication of MND.
Sinfield has already raised over £10 million for MND research and support services since he began running marathons in 2020, following Burrow's diagnosis in 2019.
He said: “The beauty of Rob being here was I got to see him and spend time with him.
“Clearly that's not there now, but like all of us when we lose people, you hold onto your fond memories, you hold onto the good times, the times when he made me laugh; they're the bits I still remember now. As tough as it him not being here, it's also really powerful what he's left behind.”
He continued: “I can't think about him for the whole week next week because I'll just be a blubbing wreck, but certainly in the tough moments, I'll think of him.”
Sinfield’s trip to Cork will have added meaning too as it will honour and remember former Warrington rugby league player and Munster coach Paul Darbyshire, who died in 2011 from MND.
Sinfield said: “I know that had a real effect on Munster at the time and a lot of those guys are still there.”
Donations can be made at donate.giveasyoulive.com. All funds raised will go to MND support and research in Ireland and the UK.