Sinfield attends Ebor Festival as final endurance run approaches
Sir Kevin Sinfield spent the second day of the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse as he prepares for his seventh and final series of ultra marathons to raise funds and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND) charities.
Charity challenge set to visit all Super League grounds
The event, billed as ‘7 in 7: The Grand Finale’, will see Sinfield complete an ultra marathon each day from 28 September until 5 October. The route is scheduled to begin at Hull KR, the reigning Betfred Super League champions, traverse the other 11 English top‑flight rugby league stadia and culminate at Old Trafford in time for the Super League Grand Final.
Sinfield has previously undertaken six major endurance endeavours in support of MND causes inspired by former team‑mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with the disease. To date he has raised in excess of £11million for the MND community.
A day at York linked to the campaign
His visit to York coincided with a handicap run under his name, the Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap, which attracted 17 runners. The race was won by The Lost King for trainer Andrew Balding, taking a prize pot in the region of £77,310.
Sinfield said he was pleased to see racegoers supporting the initiative and that York had been a particularly supportive stop on his fundraising efforts. He reflected on the public backing he and his team have received and stressed the importance of continuing to raise funds for families affected by MND.
From the pitch to endurance running
Asked to compare his current training with his rugby league career, Sinfield described the physical challenges as different in nature to the contact sport he played for 18 years, noting that endurance events bring their own form of strain. He underlined that he and his team remain focused on the task ahead and continue to prepare as the start date approaches.
With just over five weeks to go following his York appearance, Sinfield reiterated the commitment behind the campaign and the collective effort required to sustain awareness and funding for those affected by MND.
Context for racegoers and festival visitors
- The Ebor Festival remains one of the highlights of the flat‑racing calendar and provided the setting for Sinfield’s visit.
- The sir‑named handicap at York adds a charitable dimension to the festival’s sporting page, linking racing audiences to a national fundraising campaign.
- Horsemen and racegoers taking part in or attending major racing festivals often see high‑profile charitable partnerships integrated into the meeting programme, bringing additional publicity to both the sport and associated causes.
Sinfield’s final ‘7 in 7’ challenge will be watched closely by supporters and the wider sporting community as he aims to bring his series of endurance efforts to a close while continuing to generate funds for MND charities.
