Kevin Sinfield completes a 24-hour charity race from Leicester to Leeds

Former Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield made a triumphant, if painful, return to Headingley after completing his latest fundraising challenge.

Around 1,000 supporters were at his old home ground to see him complete his 101-run milestone at Leicester, where he now works as defense coach with the Tigers, in 24 hours.

Sinfield has raised more than £500,000 for the MND Association and Leeds Hospitals Charity to build a new care home in the name of his former Leeds team-mate Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019.

Burrow was at Headingley for the emotional return of Sinfield, who was clearly in great discomfort after his grueling run, the equivalent of nearly four marathons completed without sleep.

“It was a real team effort from the whole crew and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Sinfield told BBC Breakfast after finishing.

“The support along the way has been incredible from the start. It was definitely a battle – we wanted a battle and we definitely got one. I’m broken – I don’t know when I’ll be able to run again.

“Rob knows how much we love and care about him.”

Sinfield, who was accompanied for the final leg by Burrow’s wife Lindsey and eldest daughter Macy, says he was pushed by the presence of his old teammate.

“It was very difficult at times, especially the end, but it’s down to my little friend here,” he said.

The England international was joined during the race by former team-mates Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Gareth Ellis and Barrie McDermott, along with former Labor communications chief Alastair Campbell and Leeds triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.

Sinfield’s journey from Leicester to Leeds was split into seven kilometer segments.

In December 2020, Sinfield helped raise over £2.7m by running seven marathons in seven days.