Sinfield set for special visit to Glasgow in latest MND fundraiser

Rugby League and fundraising legend Kevin Sinfield CBE is set for a poignant leg of his latest challenge when he comes to Glasgow on Wednesday 4^th December.

Sinfield will run in memory of his friend Rob Burrow, who passed away from MND in June this year. This will be Sinfield’s fifth annual challenge for the MND community having raised nearly £10 million in the first four events. However, there will also be significant connections to Glasgow as Sinfield and his team complete the 50km loop around the city.

Starting at Ibrox at 7am, they will remember former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen, who passed away from MND aged 43 in 2019.  The route will also stop at the Jimmy Johnstone statue at Celtic Park, the legendary Celtic striker who lost his battle with MND in 2006. The route will also take in Firhill where former Partick Thistle defender Don McVicar will be remembered. He passed away in the same year as Johnstone aged just 43 having played with St Johnstone, Tranmere Rovers, Montrose, Forfar, Airdrie, Ayr United and Elgin City as well as Partick Thistle. Finally, the leg will end at Scotstoun, the home of Rugby Union in the city will invoke memories of the legendary Doddie Weir, who was a great friend and inspiration to Sinfield and Burrow before he passed away in 2022.

This year’s challenge has the tagline of ‘Running home for Christmas’ as the seventh day will end in Sinfield’s home area of Saddleworth.

Sinfield will be raising money for six MND charities including My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and MND Scotland.

The week long challenge will start on 1st December with Sinfield and the team covering over 50km per day, visiting seven regions across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Each day will be broken down into 7km blocks, the number 7 as always central to Sinfield’s challenge in recognition of his friend and former team mate Rob Burrow, who wore the number during his glittering career alongside Sinfield at Leeds Rhinos. The team will aim to complete each 7km within one hour before the next block must start on the hour, meaning the only rest the team will get between each leg is the time spare after they have completed the block.

Commenting on his new challenge, Sinfield said, “Our visits to Scotland are always very special. Doddie was such an inspiration to us all and he is always on our mind during each challenge. Our running top that day will feature Doddie’s famous tartan, which we are always proud to wear.

“I am pleased to be raising money for MND Scotland and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation once again this year. Given all the connections to MND to the sporting clubs in the city, I think this will be a very special day and I look forward to seeing everyone as we go around Glasgow.”

Members of the public can sponsor Sinfield at https://donate.giveasyoulive.c... or by texting Kevin10 to 70143 to donate £10. For more details of the entire route for the 2024 challenge visit www.therhinos.co.uk/the-club/s...