Kevin Sinfield Knighted by Prince William for MND Fundraising Efforts

Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield has been knighted by Prince William at Windsor Castle in recognition of his extensive charity fundraising for motor neurone disease (MND) in honor of his former Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow.

Sinfield, 45, has completed seven gruelling running challenges since 2020, inspired by Burrow, who died in 2024 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND. These endurance events saw Sinfield cover an average of over 27.9 miles per day.

Prince William, the Prince of Wales, previously made a surprise visit to Sinfield during one of his endurance challenges, accompanied by his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales. At the time, the Princess of Wales told Sinfield, "What you're doing is so inspiring – the unity that you're building."

To date, Sinfield's fundraising campaign has amassed over £13 million for MND charities. Following the conclusion of his "7 in 7: The Grande Finale week," Sinfield indicated a shift in his fundraising approach, aiming to provide a respite for the volunteers who have supported his efforts. He described the team's commitment as "unbelievable," noting that they are all volunteers who dedicate significant time and effort to the cause without professional event or marketing support.

"I think I felt I needed to release, if that's the right word, disconnect, uncouple... I can't find the right term that has enough warmth for that group. Set them free... I'm not sure they want to be set free. We'll see. But I will be going again," Sinfield stated in a BBC Breakfast interview.

Previously, Sinfield participated in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2023, pushing his friend Burrow in a specially adapted wheelchair. Near the finish line, Sinfield emotionally carried Burrow the final metres across the finish, creating a memorable scene.