Jessica Ennis-Hill, the Olympic champion, has confirmed her participation in Kevin Sinfield’s charitable initiative to support Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in Sheffield. Ennis-Hill, a resident of Sheffield, will run alongside 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 organizing annual fundraising events for MND charities. With over £10 million raised so far, his contributions have facilitated the establishment of a pioneering center in Leeds, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom.
The inspiration behind Sinfield’s fundraising efforts stems from his former teammate and close friend, Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with MND. Ennis-Hill’s endorsement of Sinfield’s cause adds significant visibility to the campaign against MND, given her stature as an Olympic gold medalist in the heptathlon and a three-time world champion.
Following her retirement from athletics in 2016, Ennis-Hill has transitioned into a successful media career and serves as a patron for various charities, including the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Barrie Wells’ sports foundation.
Sinfield’s relentless pursuit to combat MND was further fueled by the recent news of England World Cup winner Lewis Moody’s diagnosis with the disease. Moody, in turn, aims to host fundraising events, including a dinner in April and a charity bike ride in 2026.
After completing the Sheffield leg of his challenge, Sinfield will continue to Cumbria, Scotland, and conclude the initiative in Leeds on Sunday. For more information on the challenge, visit https://www.therhinos.co.uk/the-club/sinfield-together-2025.
