Big crowds braved the rain at St Mary’s Church in Rougham to cheer on Kevin Sinfield on the first stop of his gruelling ultramarathon challenge.
The former rugby league player is taking on seven ultramarathons in seven days, known as the 7 in 7: Together challenge, to raise money in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) research. He completed his first ultramarathon in Suffolk on December 1 in tribute to former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart, who lives with the condition, crossing the finishing line at Portman Road.
Kevin has previously completed five seven-in-seven marathon challenges, raising more than £10million for MND research, inspired by the memory of his former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow, who died from the disease in June last year, aged 41. After starting the run at Bury Rugby Club, Kevin was met by big crowds in Rougham, including schoolchildren from neighbouring Rougham VC Primary School and Acorns and Woodlands Pre-School, alongside the village’s community choir.
Children from St Gregory’s Church of England Primary School in Sudbury also travelled to Rougham to greet Kevin at the church. Headteacher Daniel Woodrow, said: “We have had a relationship with Kevin for some time now. Last year for Comic Relief we did a project about 40 ways the world would be a better place, and one of the ways the children came up with was ‘if everyone was more like Kevin Sinfield’ because he’s such an inspiration.
Kevin found out about the project and sent a video to the children thanking them. For the children to be able to come here and meet him in person is lovely. A few of them are huge rugby fans too so have been very excited about today.”
Kevin spoke to the gathered crowds, thanking them for a ‘very special welcome’.
He said: “On behalf of all our team, thank you very much for coming out today – I know it’s cold and wet this morning.”
Reverend Canon Julia Lall, Rector at St Mary’s, said: “We feel really privileged to have been part of Kevin’s challenge today. It is a cause very close to our hearts and has touched some people within our community. I didn’t realise quite how amazing today was going to be. Getting the school, pre-school and the village involved has been amazing.
The community choir has been brilliant too, singing their hearts out. It’s lovely to be able to raise awareness of motor neurone disease research because it’s such an important cause.”
For more on Kevin’s challenge and to donate to the cause, see here.