Kevin Sinfield has confirmed that visiting the newly-opened Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease is proof that his fundraising efforts are “the right thing to do”, something he claimed his former Leeds Rhinos teammate would have done if the roles were reversed.
The Rob Burrow Centre for MND was opened in November off the back of Sinfield’s incredible fundraising efforts that have seen over £10 million go towards combating and raising awareness about MND.
That challenge began for Sinfield in late 2019 just after Burrow was diagnosed with the first of his challenges coming in late 2020, making this year’s event ‘7 in 7: Together’ the sixth annual fundraiser.
Speaking about the challenge, including how difficult it is to do following Burrow’s passing, Sinfield revealed that his ex-Rhinos teammate found it “hilarious” that he was out in the cold running, but insisted that his former player partner would have been doing the exact same thing if it was another teammate who had been afflicted.
He explained: “I love the fact that he found it hilarious that we were out running in the cold and he was sat at home but I do know that if it had been any of our teammates, he’d be out doing the same.”
Kevin Sinfield 7 in 7 challenge route and timings
Rob Burrow Centre for MND a “tangible piece” in fundraising campaign
Sinfield’s challenge started on Monday with the England rugby union assistant coach setting off from Bury St Edmunds to Ipswich on day one, with Sunday’s seventh day set to see him finish at the ground he called home for many years – Headingley.
Sinfield has recently returned to Leeds to see the Rob Burrow Centre for MND having not visited throughout the construction process and he revealed how much of a game-changer it will be for those affected by MND.
He explained: “The last time I was on site was the day after Rob had passed so it was the day that Geoff and Irene were putting the first spade in the ground, and I haven’t been back since.
“I’d heard and been told wonderful things about how it looked and how it was designed but to get to see it, it showed me what we’re continuing to do the right thing.
“It’s a tangible piece within the campaign. It’s the bit that you can grab hold of and see and actually it’s bricks and mortar, but there are so many other bits and pieces like that when you’re providing wheelchairs for people and eye gaze machines.”
Sinfield continued: “There’s loads and loads of different ways you can help but actually for it to be a stand-alone building that hopefully can be picked up and dropped in other cities around the UK eventually, that would be great to be a part of.
“The centre will make a huge difference and provide the care and support and love that people with MND deserve and haven’t got sadly in the past.”
Kevin Sinfield speaks on memories of Rob Burrow and how they’ll impact latest challenge
The 2025 event will be the second challenge ran since the passing of Burrow in mid-2024 and Sinfield admitted that did make it harder but spoke about how he enjoys remembering his teammate, “in a positive, inspiring and fun way”.
“It’s been tough the whole way along but I think the beauty of Rob being here was that I got to see him and spend time with him, and clearly that’s not there now but like all of us when we lose people, you hold onto fond memories and the good times,” Sinfield explained.
“They’re the times I remember now and it’s not unique for me to be out on a run and look at my watch and it have all the sevens on it, it’s not unique for me to be out on a run and see registration plates with three sevens on it and stuff like that happens to me all the time, so they are nice memories to have.”
He added: “I only think of Rob in a positive, inspiring and fun way, and then you think about last Thursday and seeing Lindsay, and the kids, and Rob’s mum and dad and sisters, and the legacy that has been built in his name, so as tough as it is him not being here, it’s also really really powerful.
“I can’t think about him the whole week next week because I’ll be a blubbering wreck but certainly in tough moments I’ll think of him.”
Information on Kevin Sinfield’s route and timings can be found here, with information on the challenge and how to donate available here.
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