Kevin Sinfield brings ultra-marathon MND challenge to Birmingham

Kevin Sinfield hopes the latest challenge will help raise about £800,000 to support the MND community

Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield completed his third ultra-marathon for MND research in Birmingham on Sunday.

He and his team ran past Villa Park, St Andrew's and Edgbaston, finishing at Alexander Stadium in what was described as a tough day in wet and cold weather.

The fundraiser was almost halfway through a seven-day challenge to run 27 miles (43km) each day.

He has raised more than £8m for charities since ex-Leeds teammate Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019.

Sinfield said he wanted to visit different parts of the country as "MND is everywhere".

Doddie Weir, who died last year, started a lot of the campaigning and "shone a real torch" on the disease, he said.

"For decades, families have been ravaged and left behind closed doors in many sad, terrible, circumstances and felt ashamed to leave the front door because people just didn't know what MND was," he said.

"It matters to people so we are trying to raise money and awareness," he said.

People came out to support the runners as they made their way through the city

"You know over the last couple of years, the team have really got behind the MND community and it's based around friendship, it's based around Rob Burrow."

People with the condition and their support teams ran an extra mile with him at the Alexander Stadium.

Sam Perkins, diagnosed with MND five years ago, was one of them.

"He's incredible, I mean he never stops," said Mr Perkins.

Clare Salter, of the MND Association, said it was "vital" to raise awareness about the disease and Sinfield was "always out there banging the drum" and had inspired others to support the community.

"What Kevin is doing is making it easier for people with MND to share their stories, to talk about what they are experiencing," she said.