Royal jokes with Kevin Sinfield during York MND challenge

Sir Kevin is completing an ultramarathon every day for seven days in his 7 in 7: The Grand Finale venture.

Sir Kevin Sinfield and Lewis Moody at the University of York Athletics Track on day two of the 7 in 7: The Grand Finale 2026 Challenge – Shiptonthorpe to Bishopthorpe (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

On Monday (September 28), he arrived at the University of York’s sport centre where he was greeted by the Princess Royal along with scores of well-wishers.

As the pair chatted, Sir Kevin agreed with the royal visitor that the term “fun run” was a “contradiction”.

Anne said: “I can run but I don’t do it for fun. I’m past that stage.”

Sir Kevin said: “Well, you’re welcome to join at any point”, to which the Princess Royal replied: “I’ll stick with horses.”

The Princess Royal and Jo Ropner, Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, with Lewis Moody at the University of York on day two of Sir Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7: The Grand Finale 2026 Challenge (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

One of his team said nobody had ever joined them for a leg on a horse.

Anne laughed and said: “That would be nice.”

She asked Sir Kevin if he was enjoying the sunny weather, but he replied: “If I’m being brutally honest, I’d love it to be bouncing down”, telling the Princess Royal that it helps with fundraising if people watching on TV think he is having a hard time.

When she asked him about his diet and nutrition for the runs, Sir Kevin said he would let her into his secret about how he is fuelled by bacon butties.

Back on the track, Sir Kevin told supporters: “Really, really well done everybody.

“Keep sharing your stories, keep looking after each other.”

The royal visitor watched as Sir Kevin did four laps of the university’s athletics track with his supporters and then banged a drum seven times to send him on his way.

She also chatted to people who had come to support the event, including many living with MND.

The Princess Royal at the University of York Athletics Track, on day two of Sir Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7: The Grand Finale 2026 Challenge (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Former England rugby union star Lewis Moody, who announced last year that he had been diagnosed with MND, surprised Sir Kevin by turning up at the track, after telling him yesterday that he could not make it.

Moody said: “Kevin Sinfield is a remarkable human being.”

He said: “If this is going to be Kev’s last big challenge – which we don’t believe for a second – then I had to be here to thank him for all that he’s done.

“I’m grateful to be here as someone living with MND.

“I’m also just proud to be here participating and supporting Kev.”

Asked about his conversation with Anne, Moody said: “Kindred spirit recognises kindred spirit. And I think she sees that in Kev.

“To have her energy and presence here today is just a fantastic thing for this community.”

Recommended reading:

Inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years, Sir Kevin and his team have raised more than £11 million for the MND community since his first annual challenge in 2020.

Six charities are set to benefit once again from this year’s fundraising – the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association.

Each ultramarathon is split into seven-kilometre blocks, which must be completed within the hour before starting the next.

There will also be an “extra mile” event every day, when Sir Kevin joins members of the MND community in completing four laps of a running track.

The home grounds of the 12 English Betfred Super League clubs will be visited, before finishing on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Super League Grand Final, where his son Jack will play for Wakefield against Warrington.

Sir Kevin sets off on Sunday morning from Hull KR’s Craven Park before heading across the city to the MKM Stadium, the home of Hull FC, and out to Market Weighton, with the first day’s event finishing in Shiptonthorpe.

Former England boss Southgate also joined Sir Kevin’s team during the run towards the finish.