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Kevin Sinfield challenge spans Hull's rugby divide

Alex Pantling/Getty Images Former rugby player Kevin Sinfield runs with a team of supporters as he waves to crowds while on one of his previous fundraising challenges. The runners wear orange and blue matching vests and headbands and are joined by a man on a bike.Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Kevin Sinfield, right, is bringing his latest fundraising challenge to Hull and East Yorkshire

A former rugby league player and fundraiser is bringing his latest challenge to Hull and East Yorkshire.

Kevin Sinfield is running 50km (31 miles) a day for seven days to raise money for six motor neurone disease (MND) charities.

The ex-Leeds Rhinos player is fundraising in memory of friend and team-mate Rob Burrow, who died of MND in June, but will also remember former Hull FC player Adam Maher, who died from the disease in 2020.

Mr Sinfield, who will visit on 5 December, will cross Hull's rugby divide, running the first half in the black and white colours of Hull FC before switching to a red and white top - the colours of Hull KR.

George Wood/Getty Images Sinfield embraces his friend Burrow at the end of a fundraising challenge. Sinfield wears his fundraising head band and a black thermal jacket, Burrow is wrapped in a woolly hat, scarf and blanket and smiles. Burrow's computer, which aided his speech, can be seen in the shot.George Wood/Getty Images
As friends and former team-mates, Burrow, left, and Sinfield raised millions together for charity to raise awareness and fund research into MND

This will be his fifth annual challenge for the MND community, having raised almost £10m in the first four events.

Mr Sinfield said he had been wanting to incorporate Hull into his challenges for a couple of years and was delighted to be able to come.

He added: "Hull is a rugby-league-mad city and Hull FC and Rovers fans gave so much support to Rob throughout his battle with MND.

"We have many friends in the city and this is definitely one of the days we are very much looking forward to in this year’s challenge.”

Mr Sinfield's run will start at Beverley Racecourse at 07:00 GMT, heading through North Ferriby before reaching the MKM Stadium in Hull.

The route takes him through Queen Victoria Square before finishing at Sewell Group Craven Park, home of Hull KR, at around 1.30pm.

Hull FC A man in a black and white striped Hull FC kit runs while grasping a rugby ball during a match. He has short dark hair and wears a head band and mouth guard. One of his team mates runs behind him.Hull FC
Adam Maher died from MND at the age of 47

Australian-born Maher was a second-rower, who made 100 appearances for FC between 2000 and 2003, scoring 25 tries.

Maher was part of the first Hull team to play at the MKM Stadium in 2003, before retiring at the end of that season.

This year’s challenge has the tagline of Running Home For Christmas, as the final day will end in Mr Sinfield’s home area of Saddleworth.

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