Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis-Hill has confirmed her participation alongside Kevin Sinfield in his charity initiative to support Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in Sheffield. Ennis-Hill, a Sheffield resident, will be running with Sinfield on Thursday as part of the ‘7 in 7 Together’ challenge, which involves Sinfield running an ultra marathon daily for a week.
Sinfield, who commenced this challenge on Monday, has been dedicated to raising funds for MND charities through annual challenges. His efforts have already raised over £10 million, contributing to the establishment of a specialized center in Leeds, the first of its kind in the UK.
The motivation behind Sinfield’s fundraising endeavors stems from his friend and former teammate, Rob Burrow, being diagnosed with MND. Ennis-Hill’s involvement in supporting Sinfield’s cause adds significant visibility to the campaign against MND, with her esteemed athletic background as an Olympic heptathlon champion and three-time world champion.
Having transitioned from her athletic career to a successful media role post-retirement in 2016, Ennis-Hill is actively engaged as a patron for various charities, including the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Barrie Wells’ sports foundation.
Sinfield’s ongoing mission to combat MND received a poignant reminder upon learning about former rugby player Lewis Moody’s MND diagnosis, emphasizing the necessity to persist in advocacy efforts. Moody also plans to host fundraising events, including a dinner in April and a charity bike ride in 2026.
Following the Sheffield leg of the challenge, Sinfield will proceed to Cumbria, Scotland, and ultimately finish in Leeds by Sunday. For more information on the initiative, visit: https://www.therhinos.co.uk/the-club/sinfield-together-2025.