Rob Burrow MND Centre appeal passes £5m mark after Sinfield challenge

Sinfield has raised millions for MND charities since Burrow's diagnosis

Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield's latest challenge has taken funding for a motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre in Leeds past the £5m mark.

Sinfield's 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge last week raised more than £900,000, 41% of which has been given to the Rob Burrow Centre for MND appeal.

That sum takes the total raised so far by the appeal to £5.3m.

Esther Wakeman, from Leeds Hospitals Charity, said Sinfield and his team's efforts had been "inspiring".

Ms Wakeman, the charity's CEO, said: "The friendship between Kev and Rob has inspired a nation to support this very worthy cause."

The Rob Burrow Centre for MND, which is based at Seacroft Hospital, has been described as the "first of its kind" by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

In total, it is expected to cost £6.8m, with the trust "confident" building work will start early next year if plans are approved when an application is submitted in the new year.

Burrow, Sinfield's former Leeds Rhinos teammate, revealed on Tuesday that it had been four years his MND diagnosis.

Burrow's father, Geoff, said: "When Rob was diagnosed there was no hope, but now I feel there is hope."

The centre named after his son "means the world to us", he said, adding that the funding boost following Sinfield's 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge was "a massive step forward" towards its opening.

Sinfield has raised millions for charity since his former teammate Rob Burrow (right) was diagnosed with MND

Since Burrow's diagnosis, Sinfield has raised millions for charity.

Before completing his latest challenge on Friday, the 43-year-old had already surpassed his £777,777 fundraising target for the week-long event.

Sinfield's 7 in 7 in 7 Challenge saw the rugby league star run seven ultra-marathons over seven days in seven cities.

Ms Wakeman, from Leeds Hospitals Charity, said: "Kevin and his team's determination to support people living with motor neurone disease and their families has been truly inspiring."

The rest of the money raised by Sinfield's challenge was donated to other charities supporting people living with MND, including the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, the Darby Rimmer Foundation and the Irish MND Association.