Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Where’s Rob cash?
Kevin’s plea to No10 as he starts another brutal run challenge
RUGBY league legend Kevin Sinfield yesterday completed the first of seven gruelling ultramarathons to raise money for motor neurone disease research.
But before setting off at 7am he admitted facing another marathon challenge – getting vital Government money to fight the debilitating illness.
A year ago, Boris Johnson pledged £50million but since then there have been two more Prime Ministers, a financial disaster and seemingly zero given.
Kevin said: “It’s slow, really slow. I’m told it’s not too far away but to have an amount of money promised then put a load of red tape and bureaucracy in its place, I don’t understand it.
“It baffles me how we’ve got people dying and really struggling yet it’s OK to put red tape in place. That’s why we’ve got to carry on doing what we’re doing.”
The ex-leeds Rhinos star was a teammate of Rob Burrow, diagnosed with
MND in 2019, and has already raised more than £5million in his name through gruelling running challenges.
Yesterday he ran 43 miles from Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to Melrose in the Scottish Borders.
The 42-year-old was seen off at dawn by a band of supporters, including former Scotland rugby union international Doddie Weir who also has MND.
Kevin is aiming to finish his challenge on Saturday at the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford. He will also run through Newcastle, Middlesbrough, York, Leeds and Bradford this week.
He aims to run more than 300 miles to raise £777,777 in honour of friend Rob, 40, who wore the number seven shirt. His Ultra 7 in 7 challenge has already topped £230,000.
The Department of Health said: “We have invested millions of pounds into MND research and remain committed to spending at least another £50m”