Rugby legend and prolific fundraiser, Kevin Sinfield CBE, will be taking on another mega challenge this December which will see him "run home" to Oldham for Christmas and raise hundreds of thousands for a cause close to his heart.
The Leeds Rhino star has raised more than £15m for motor neurone disease (MND) research in recent years as he has taken on a series of tough challenges following the diagnosis of his friend and former teammate, Rob Burrow, who died in June this year.
The 44-year-old rugby league great, fondly known as "Sir Kev" by many, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds in the summer, in light of his sporting and fundraising achievements.
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Now, Kevin and the team will be back on the streets this December as they launch their fifth annual challenge to raise vital funds for the cause.
Leeds Rhinos said the challenge has been called "running home for Christmas, 7 in 7 in 7" as the team will visit seven regions across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, covering 50km per day in 7km blocks and hoping to raise £777,777.
The rugby team explained the number seven is "always central to Sinfield's challenge" in recognition Rob, who wore the number seven shirt during the majority of his glittering career.
The team will aim to complete each 7km within one hour before the next block starts on the hour, meaning the only rest the team will get between each leg is the time spare after they have completed the block.
The challenge will also see the return of the Extra Mile events from last year's 7 in 7 in 7 challenge, when members of the MND community joined Sinfield and the team to complete their own mile.
The week-long challenge will kick off on Sunday, December 1 with a run from Liverpool to Wrexham, taking the fundraising effort back to Wales after last year's run in Cardiff.
The next day is due to be the longest of the challenge, covering ground of 60km as the team travels to Gloucester and then Bristol.
This stretch was inspired by friends team, former rugby player, Ed Slater, who played for Gloucester, and footballer, Marcus Stewart, who started his career at Bristol Rovers.
On Tuesday, December 3, they will then head across the Irish Sea to Belfast after last year's "memorable run" in Dublin.
The fourth day will see them descend on Scotland but, having already achieved "special memories" in Edinburgh and the Borders, this time the challenge will loop around Glasgow starting at Ibrox and finishing at Scotstoun.
The runners will return to England on December 5 with Sinfield and the team set to receive a warm welcome in the Ruby League mad city of Hull.
The next day, the team will start at the Head Office of the MND Association in Northampton with Kevin leading the team to Leicester, where the 2021 Extra Mile Challenge started.
Finally, on Saturyday, December 7, the team will return home, starting outside Old Trafford as of 7.15am where Kevin and Rob shared "so many memories on the field with the Rhinos".
The runners will head to Manchester via Media City before calling to the Etihad Stadium on his way to his hometown in Oldham.
The route includes a stop at his old junior rugby club, Wterhead, before an emotional conclusion to the week-long challenge back in Saddleworth, where the first challenge finished back in 2020.
Those looking to participate in Uppermill's Santa Dash this year on Saturday, December 7, might catch a glimpse of Kevin as his fundraising crew plan to join more than 2,200 Santas in the annual event.
Kevin will leave the Santas and head off to his own finish line.
The fundraiser for the event has already raised more than £213,000 at the time of writing which the team hope to go towards six MND charities.
The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) said the annual challenge this December will be "even more poignant" since the sad death of its patron, Rob, earlier this year.
The MNDA is encouraging others to participate in their own 7 in 7 challenge with a fundraising target of £77.
Commenting on his new challenge, Sinfield said, “The theme for our challenge this year is ‘Running Home for Christmas’ and we will be building up to the last day and joining all the Santas in Uppermill.
"It is always a great day in the area and I would like to thank the organisers for allowing us to be part of it.
"The whole week is an opportunity to show the MND community that we have not forgotten them and we will continue to bang the drum.”
Council leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, said: “I am thrilled that Kevin will be completing this amazing challenge right here in Oldham, and we support him every step of the way.
Kevin's achievements as an incredible athlete and as a human being are truly inspiring, literally going that extra mile for Motor Neurone Disease.
"I hope that residents will come out to support Kevin on what will be a monumental day for Oldham and support this important cause.
"I really couldn’t be more proud.”
Members of the public can sponsor Sinfield at https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield-and-teams-fundraising or by texting Kevin10 to 70143 to donate £10.
Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk
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