Rugby League legend Kevin Sinfield CBE is gearing up to start his latest fundraising challenge – to run more than 230 miles in seven days across seven regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. And it all kicks off in festive style this weekend (1 December) at Liverpool's hotly anticipated 20 anniversary Santa Dash!

This will be Kevin's fifth annual challenge, having already raised almost £10million for the MND community in memory of his friend Rob Burrow. The challenge has been named Running Home For Christmas, as the seventh and final day of the run will end in Sinfield’s home area of Saddleworth.

Each day will be broken down into 7K blocks – the number seven is always central to Kevin’s charity challenges in recognition of his friend and former team mate who wore the number during his glittering career at Leeds Rhinos.

The first leg will see Kevin run from Liverpool to Wrexham, which also takes in Seacombe, Port Sunlight, Hooton, Ellesmere Port, and Chester. The following days will then cover Gloucester to Bristol, Belfast, Glasgow, Beverley to Hull, Northampton to Leicester, and finally Old Trafford to Saddleworth.

Kevin commented: “I am really looking forward to the start line and being joined by over 8,000 Santas will certainly put us in a festive spirit. This year’s event will be particularly poignant having lost Rob in June, but our commitment to Rob’s memory is to continue to support the MND community.

“We are looking forward to meeting more people than ever from the MND community throughout the week, giving them the opportunity to continue to bang the drum for MND.”

All Santas will enjoy the same grandstand finish line at Liverpool Town Hall featuring stilt-walking festive characters and ‘real’ snow. If you'd like to know more about the event, visit the BTR Liverpool website. 

Image: BTR Liverpool/Kevin Sinfield