Sinfield sets off from Bury St Edmunds on ultramarathon challenge

Hundreds of people, including former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart, cheered on ex-rugby league star Kevin Sinfield as he set off on his latest ultramarathon challenge in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) research.

Sinfield, 45, began his first of seven ultramarathons in seven days from Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, Suffolk, at 08:40 GMT.

He is running to Ipswich in tribute to Stewart, who lives with the condition.

“Marcus Stewart has become a really good friend, he’s a fan favourite at Ipswich Town and he actually lives in the village where I’m from, so this just felt right,” Sinfield told the BBC.

Speaking to the crowd, he said: “The fact you’re all here today shows how much this beautiful community means to you as well.”

“[I’m] really looking forward to getting going.

“I’ve heard it’s a beautiful part of the county. I’ve never seen it before, so to have this incredible turnout this morning is great,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“I’ve got a lot of friends that live in this part of the world, and MND knows no boundaries,” he added.

Stewart is supporting Sinfield across the day and will be at the finish line at Ipswich’s Portman Road stadium later.

“I’m glad I’m here. It’s taken me four hours yesterday to get here but these guys are going to be on the road for seven days in all sorts of weather, so it’s the least I can do,” Stewart said.

“The people of Suffolk have been amazing for me and they’ve been brilliant today for these guys,” he added.

Sinfield is due to make stops in Rougham, Woolpit, Stowmarket, Needham Market, Great Blakenham and Ipswich.

Sinfield was inspired by, and continues to run in memory of, his former Leeds team mate, Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed in 2019 and died, aged 41, in June 2024.

He is pounding the streets on seven routes in the UK and Ireland over seven days, from Monday 1 to Sunday 7 December, to raise money and awareness for those impacted by MND.

The challenge, known as 7 in 7: Together, will see Sinfield running an ultramarathon of at least 45km (27.9 miles) each day, in bursts of 7km (4.3 miles).

Each day is in honour of a local personality who has championed the cause, and, as in previous challenges, includes an extra-mile event when Sinfield joins members of the MND community.