Sir Kevin Sinfield’s final endurance event to raise money for motor neurone disease charities received a royal boost when the Prince and Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance, telling him what he was doing was "so inspiring".
The royal couple joined hundreds of supporters gathered at Wakefield’s DIY Kitchens Stadium, where William joked with families living with MND about how he had feared a phone call from Sir Kevin asking him to take part in one of his runs.
Sir Kevin is undertaking an ultra marathon daily for seven days as part of his 7 in 7: The Grand Finale venture, which marks the latest in a series of fundraising challenges inspired by his friend Rob Burrow.
Rob Burrow’s family members, including his children Macy, Maya and Jackson, were present at the home of Wakefield Trinity to greet the rugby league icon as he concluded the third day of his challenge.
Greeting him on arrival, Kate said: "What you’re doing is so inspiring – the unity that you’re building."
William advised him: "Make sure you hold yourself together for another few days."
Sir Kevin admitted to the royal couple that he had spent all day dreaming of an ice bath.
William later told officials at the club: "The rugby league family is very special. We’re all thinking about Rob all the time".
Before Sir Kevin arrived, the royal visitors spoke with families living with MND, telling Mandy and Paul Attack: "I’ve been dreading the moment Kev asked me – ‘Sorry Kev, I’ve got a busy diary’.
"This might be his last challenge so I might have missed it."
Speaking to guests at another table, he remarked: "I can’t do Lycra."
While on the pitch, Sir Kevin asked William if he "fancied a bit of a run", prompting the heir to the throne to pretend he could not hear, joking: "There’s something in my ear."
He described Sir Kevin’s efforts to the families as "monumental", adding: "He’s got to be bionic. By the time he’s finished all this, he’s got to have been rebuilt."
Driven by the memory of Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years, Sir Kevin and his support team have raised over £11 million for MND causes since commencing their annual events in 2020.
Six charities will benefit from this latest effort: the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, My Name5 Doddie Foundation, Darby Rimmer Foundation, MND Scotland and the Irish MND Association.
The challenge requires completing an ultra marathon divided into seven-kilometre segments, with each block needing to be finished within an hour before starting the next.
Having started in Hull on Sunday morning, Sir Kevin is set to conclude on the pitch at Old Trafford prior to the Super League Grand Final, where his son Jack is scheduled to feature for Wakefield against Warrington.
Upon departing, the royal visitors were given framed photographs showing past royal visits to Wakefield Trinity, with William noting he had "heard a lot today" about how Saturday’s Grand Final could mark the club’s first trophy in 63 years.
He was also introduced to rugby league icon Neil Fox, who remains the sport’s all-time leading points scorer.
Sir Kevin was overcome with emotion as he told the Wakefield crowd how much their support meant to him.
He said: "Prince William and Princess Kate, you’ve been such big supporters of what we’ve been trying to do. And such big supporters of Rob and Lindsey (Burrow’s wife) and the Burrow family. To have you here today is incredible and brings real credibility and awareness to the MND community."
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