Kevin Sinfield completes ultra marathon challenge to raise funds to fight MND

Kevin Sinfield has completed his latest energy-sapping fundraising challenge to help people living with motor neurone disease.

The 43-year-old former rugby league star crossed the finishing line to a rapturous welcome on The Mall in London on Thursday afternoon after running seven ultra marathons in seven different cities in as many days, once again inspired by former team-mate Rob Burrow's MND diagnosis.

Shortly afterwards, he told the gathered crowd: "You all know why we’re here. Hopefully we’ve sent the right message out. The MND community is a beautiful community and it needs al of us to keep fighting. The awareness we have generated this week has been enormous again in Rob’s name.

"Fundraising is so important. We tried to push this morning how important the money is because that’s the thing that’s going to shift the dial for us. That’s the thing that’s going to get us a cure.

"It’s also the thing that’s going to make sure families are looked after properly, If there’s one thing you leave today with today from our team, it’s that."

Sinfield and his team took to the roads once again to raise awareness of MND and funds for five charities supporting people affected by the condition and their families, and also to fund research into effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

Each leg has comprised 27 miles – the conventional marathon distance with an extra mile added to signify how much further people can go to help friends in need – with the aim being to complete it in under four hours.

Thursday’s course took the team from Twickenham to Africa Gate on The Mall via Hyde Park, Bond Street, Regent Street, Leicester Square, Tower Bridge, Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square with former England cricketer Stuart Broad and Rugby