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11 months ago
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Kevin Sinfield said he would be celebrating like he had won a cup final on Thursday night after completing his seventh ultramarathon in seven days.
The England rugby coach broke down in tears outside Buckingham Palace – where many think he should now be knighted – as he finished the last leg of his epic challenge, which has so far raised more than £650,000 for motor neurone disease charities.
Sinfield admitted his fourth endurance event had been his most gruelling yet, having run 27.2miles in the seven different cities of Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin, Brighton and London.
But the 43-year-old said his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow – who was diagnosed with MND in 2019 – had inspired him to keep going every day.
'We are all pretty shot,' admitted an emotional Sinfield after hugging his team of runners and cyclists at the finish line on The Mall. 'It takes a lot out of you. Not just the running, but the emotion of the week. There was a fair bit of pressure on us to complete it.
Kevin Sinfield completed his seventh ultra maraton in as many days on the Mall on Thursday
The England defence coach completed the latest of his gruelling challenges in aid of motor neurone disease
Sinfield collapsed into the arms of his team after finishing the feat and running 190.4 miles
'When I reached the finish, my first thought was, 'Thank God we are here'. But we are obviously really proud.
'We are here because we want to raise money for people who need it. I feel a bit like the Ready Brek man because you get a glow about you because you are making a small difference.
'We have got a bus trip back and it will be like celebrating after a cup final for us. We will also toast Rob and the Burrow family. He has been in our thinking and has been a huge inspiration for us all.'
Sinfield said before this fourth challenge that he would be keen to do seven events in total.
Asked if he would go again next year, he added: 'There will be some conversations and we will see how everyone is feeling.
'A big thing for us is fundraising. If we hit the target (£777,777) then people are telling us that they would like us to go again.'
Sinfield has raised over £8million for a selection of motor neurone disease charities, and set a fundraising target of £777,777 for his latest endeavour.
As of 7pm, the 43-year-old has raised £670,691.55 - 86 per cent of his proposed total - which will be split between Motor Neurone Disease Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, founded by the late Doddie Weir.
The 43-year-old's challenge has seen him travel the length of the country to raise awareness
Friend and former team-mate Rob Burrow was with Sinfield at the start of his journey last week
Sinfield and Burrow took part in the Leeds Marathon in June - with Sinfield carrying his friend over the finish line in emotional scenes
Ahead of Thursday's start, Sinfield implored others to consider how they could help the cause - without undertaking such an extreme challenge.
'What we have done the last few years as a team has been about raising awareness and funds for this beautiful communit,' Sinfield shared.
'But what I would say to you all is you do not have to run marathons, just do your little bit, just help in some way.
'There is always someone a lot worse off than you who needs our help, so let's keep fighting together.'
To donate to Kevin Sinfield's 7 in 7 in 7 fundraiser, go to: donate.giveasyoulive.com
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