Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis-Hill has pledged her support to Kevin Sinfield for his ongoing initiative to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) by participating in the Sheffield leg of his ‘7 in 7 Together’ challenge.
Sinfield, a former England and Leeds Rhinos player, is undertaking the task of completing an ultra marathon every day for a week, with the aim of supporting MND charities. This marks his sixth consecutive annual challenge in aid of MND causes, having already generated over £10 million, enabling the establishment of a pioneering center in Leeds, the first of its kind in the UK.
The inspiration behind Sinfield’s philanthropic endeavors stems from the diagnosis of his close friend and ex-teammate, Rob Burrow, with MND. Ennis-Hill, a renowned athlete who clinched the heptathlon Olympic gold in 2012 and boasts three world championship titles, will be one of the notable figures contributing to Sinfield’s advocacy efforts, thereby enhancing awareness of MND.
Following her retirement from athletics in 2016, Ennis-Hill has transitioned into a successful media career and taken on patronage roles for various charitable organizations, including the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Barrie Wells’ sports foundation.
Sinfield’s mission to combat MND remains resolute, particularly in light of recent news concerning England World Cup winner, Lewis Moody, being diagnosed with the disease. Moody, in parallel, intends to host a fundraising dinner in April and organize a charity bike ride in 2026.
Upon completing the Sheffield segment of his challenge, Sinfield will proceed to Cumbria, Scotland, and culminate the initiative in Leeds on Sunday. For further details on the campaign, visit https://www.therhinos.co.uk/the-club/sinfield-together-2025.