Friday December 1st will mark the start date for Kevin Sinfield’s upcoming ‘Seven in Seven in Seven’ challenge raising funds for MND, something that the ex-Leeds Rhinos captain believes is why he is “here on this earth”.
There’s plenty of emotion surrounding the incredible fundraising efforts that Sinfield is partaking in not least due to the physical and emotional toll that such an athletic feat puts on a person, but also of course the motivation behind him undertaking the task.
Just under three years ago Sinfield accompanied former Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow live on BBC Breakfast during an emotional interview that saw Burrow confirm he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a neurological condition that as yet has no cure.
Since then the rugby league community, led by Sinfield, have come together and since united with the MND community in an effort to raise both awareness and funds to help find a cure for the terrible disease.
The latest challenge begins on the 1st of December and will see Sinfield once again take to the streets, something he’s explained is a huge factor in doing the challenges. Speaking to the media today he highlighted that the challenges have also been about the emotional human impact, not just the money.
He explained: “We cannot measure how we’ve made people feel and that’s probably going to be more important. Of course we understand the awareness is crucial, we understand the films will make such a difference to trying to find a cure for this disease, but along the way how have we made people feel and have we inspired people to get off the couch and try and do their little bit? Have we inspired people to be better friends?
“I hope we’ve been able to do all of those things and within our team we’ve certainly got a great deal of fulfilment and it’s showed me exactly why I’m here on this earth and that’s to try and help. I don’t think there’s a greater gift of providing hope for a community that need our support, need our love and need our respect.”
So far his efforts have helped raise millions of pounds with last year’s initial ‘Seven in Seven’ challenge slated to have been the last in a trio of challenges, but Sinfield instead explained that the decision was made to commit to a fourth one.
“It’s probably about the February-March time probably just after the around the Six Nations. The plan was to do three but why would we stop? Why would we stop? Like, we haven’t got a cure, we still feel we can make a better impact on people’s lives who have got MND, we feel we can help some more, so why would we stop?
“I think, hopefully you’ve heard from me enough now that I’m in this now, there’ll come a point when I can’t run any more, which is fine, but I’ll find another way of banging the drum, and it means a lot to the whole team, so I can’t speak on their behalf, but I’m pretty sure no matter what we throw up next, they’ll all be in.”
For more information about his epic challenge and information on how to donate, click here.
