Kevin Sinfield starts final 7 in 7 for MND awareness
Kevin Sinfield launches his final 7 in 7 ultra-marathon challenge for motor neurone disease (MND) awareness this Sunday from Hull KR's Craven Park, with Hull fan Craig Eskrett helping kick it off after his wife said people now know what MND is thanks to Sinfield.
Key Takeaways
- Kevin Sinfield's 7 in 7: The Grand Finale starts at Craven Park and ends at Old Trafford before the Super League Grand Final.
- Hull KR supporter Craig Eskrett, diagnosed with MND in 2023, will help launch the seven-day run.
- Ileshia Eskrett says Sinfield's openness with Rob Burrow means far more people now understand MND.
- Sinfield has raised more than £11m for MND charities since Burrow's 2019 diagnosis.
- St Helens fans can greet him at BrewDog Stadium on 2 October and see the final leg start on 3 October.
The former rugby league star will run seven ultra marathons in seven days, covering at least 45km (27.9 miles) each day between Hull and Manchester while visiting all 12 English Super League grounds. Coverage of the send-off and route updates sits alongside other sports media alerts in our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Why does Kevin Sinfield's final challenge matter for MND?
According to the BBC, Craig Eskrett will be at the start line when Sinfield sets off. His wife, Ileshia, told BBC Radio Humberside that Sinfield is "an incredible man" whose work has inspired Craig to keep fighting.
"People know what MND is now and are getting behind the running," she said, adding that awareness has spread beyond rugby league. She also pointed to a "massive change" since Sinfield and Rob Burrow spoke so openly about the disease.
Sinfield's efforts honour Burrow, his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate, who died in June 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years. The 46-year-old has raised more than £11m for MND charities since Burrow's diagnosis in 2019.
Craig's family organised a 10K in July that drew hundreds of runners and raised more than £30,000, with a 2027 race "definitely" under discussion.
Where will the 7 in 7 Grand Finale route go?
Day one starts at Hull KR's Craven Park, then takes in Hull FC's MKM Stadium. Sinfield's last aid stop that day is the Bay Horse Pub in Market Weighton before he finishes in Shiptonthorpe. Manager Euan Walker expects him between 14:10 and 14:40 BST and urged locals to wear orange or club colours.
The route then runs through York, Wakefield and Huddersfield before the Old Trafford finish ahead of the Grand Final. Sinfield said he is looking forward to celebrating Rob again and meeting newly diagnosed people and bereaved families in a community that "has not felt love or support" for a long time.
St Helens R.F.C. says Kevin Sinfield and his team arrive at BrewDog Stadium at about 3:15pm on Friday 2 October 2026 for Day 6, with free entry via advance tickets and gates from 2:30pm. On Saturday 3 October they leave the stadium apron at 10:45am for the final push to Old Trafford.
How can fans back Kevin Sinfield and Sock It To MND?
Sinfield aims to sell 7,777 pairs of sports socks for the Sock It To MND campaign. The number seven nods to Burrow's scrum-half shirt at Leeds Rhinos. Communities along the route, from Hull to St Helens, are being asked to turn out and cheer the final hurrah.
BBC Look North and local radio are tracking the story as the countdown continues. For fans following broadcast and live updates, our Streaming & TV Alerts category is the place to catch related sports TV coverage as the Grand Finale unfolds.