Prince William hails Kevin Sinfield’s latest fundraising challenge for MND as a ‘fitting tribute’ to Rob Burrow
THE Prince of Wales hailed rugby star Kevin Sinfield’s latest fundraiser for motor neurone disease as a “fitting tribute” to former team-mate Rob Burrow.
William wished Sinfield the “very best of luck” yesterday as he embarked on a challenge to run seven ultra-marathons in seven days.
The ex Leeds Rhinos player, 44, has helped raise more than £16million since Burrow, who died in June, was diagnosed with MND in 2019.
Wills, who presented the pair with CBEs in January, said in a video from Windsor: “Catherine and I wanted to wish you the very best of luck for what’s going to be a very gruelling week.
“What you and Rob have achieved has been incredible and this is a very fitting tribute to his legacy.
“I’m sure you’ll be running with him in your mind the whole way.”
The week-long Running Home For Christmas challenge will take Sinfield from Liverpool to Manchester via Wrexham, Gloucester, Belfast, Glasgow, Hull and Northampton.
He will run 50km (31 miles) a day for a week, finishing in his hometown Saddleworth, Oldham, on Saturday.
Each run will be broken down into hour-long 7km legs in a nod to the famous shirt number Burrow wore before capturing the nation’s hearts through fundraising.
Kevin joined a sea of more than 8,000 Santas — including football’s John Barnes and Peter Reid — at yesterday’s Liverpool Santa Dash.
England kicking coach Sinfield said: “We want to spread the love.
“We want to show people how much we care about them.”
More than £288,000 of Sinfield’s £777,777 target had been donated last night on his Give As You Live fundraising page.