Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield is ‘one friend in a million’

Truer words could not have been spoken from Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow as he watched his friend and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield complete a superhuman feat.

The Rhinos director of rugby and former captain has run seven marathons in seven days in aid of his friend and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Sinfield’s seven marathons in a week has raised over £1.4m for the MND Association. His initial target was £77,777. It is astonishing, incredible and simply remarkable.

However, no superlative could do justice to the achievement.

The money that has been raised by Sinfield’s incredible feat will go towards much-needed research to fight a disease that does not have a cure.

On Saturday, Sinfield was greeted at the finish of his fifth marathon by Burrow and his family which was surely the motivation he needed to keep going for his final two marathons.

The pair’s bond is evident for all to see with Sinfield previously describing it as “unbreakable”.

Oldham-born Sinfield was Burrow’s captain for 13 years at the Rhinos, with the pair last taking to the field together as Leeds won the Super League Grand Final and completed the treble in 2015.

The pair celebrated plenty together on the field during what was one of Leeds’ most decorated periods and that kinship has remained even five years after their final competitive outing together.

As team-mates, they won seven Super League titles, two Challenge Cups, three World Cup Challenges and three League Leaders’ Shields.

It is the type of consistent success that is not seen often in any sport, not just rugby league.

Sinfield was by Burrow’s side when he broke down in tears in a TV interview to announce he had been diagnosed with MND 12 months ago.

The physical exertion put in by Sinfield to complete the feat can almost get lost when looking at the incredible amount of money that has been raised.

It amounts to just over 183 miles, with Sinfield undertaking the challenge for over a combined 26 hours. There are not many who could hack such a task while completing all seven marathons in under four hours.

Not to mention, Sinfield has completed the marathons in the height of winter.

Rugby league faces plenty of criticism from in and outside the game. Some is warranted, some is unfair but what makes the sport so special is the personalities like Sinfield.

The Leeds legend deserves all the credit he receives – although he will be keen to always bat it aside – for undertaking the challenge and driving the fundraising but the achievement would not have been possible without all the kind-hearted donors offering their support.

Over 65,000 people have contributed to the fund.

Click HERE to donate

To put that into context, you couldn’t fit all those who have supported Sinfield and Burrow into Emerald Headingley and Elland Road.

The swell of support will have been more than enough to get Sinfield through any physical or mental barriers. It was only on Saturday that the fundraising hit the £500,000 mark, more than doubling by Monday.

As Sinfield reflected following his final marathon this morning, he admitted he was apprehensive about reaching the initial £77,777 fundraising target.

By Monday afternoon, 16 times that amount had been raised and was continuing to rise at an exponential rate.

In what has been a difficult year for many, Sinfield felt further humbled by the support that has been received.

The Rhinos director of rugby remained committed to the last step, insisting all he was doing was helping out a friend.

Everybody needs a friend like Kev but the world would certainly be a better place if we had just a few more people like ‘Sir Kev’ in it.

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