Kevin Sinfield is on the fifth leg of his Running Home for Christmas challenge.

The former England rugby league star, 44, is covering about 50km (31 miles) between Beverley and Hull to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND) charities.

He was met at his first stop at Hull Golf Club by Olympic cyclist Dame Laura Kenny.

Dame Laura said she was supporting the fundraising effort as her grandmother died of MND at the age of 68.

She described it as “one of the cruelest diseases”.

“What Kev and Rob and Doddie and everyone shouting about motor neurone disease is doing are total inspirations to me,” she said.

“I just want everybody to know what it is and keep raising money because without these events ultimately we won’t find a cure.”

The six-times Olympic medal winner said she would be joining Mr Sinfield for the final mile of the run.

A crowd gathered at the start at Beverley Racecourse as he set off at 07:00 GMT for the fourth of seven ultramarathons.

Mr Sinfield told supporters: “To see so many people here this morning is wonderful.

“I always enjoyed playing in Hull, so I get to play here again today.”

The former Leeds Rhinos star is attempting to run a total of 230 miles in seven days to raise money in memory of his friend and teammate Rob Burrow, who died of MND in June at the age of 41.

Mr Sinfield started the run with a countdown played on a drum by Rosie, whose grandmother Ruth has MND.

Ruth said: “It isn’t easy, but thanks to people like Kevin we hope we get a cure.”

The challenge will also remember former Hull FC player Adam Maher, who died from MND in 2020 at the age of 47.

Mr Sinfield set off wearing the black and white colours of Hull FC, but is due to switch to the red and white of cross-city rivals Hull KR for the second half of the route.

“The people of Hull have been fantastic in their support of Rob and certainly both clubs have done their little bit,” he said.

“There’s some rivalries of some of the places we’ve been, but we all need to come together and fight in the battle against MND.”

Key points on the Beverley to Hull route are due to include Haltemprice leisure centre (10:35), Costello Stadium (11:35) and Queen Victoria Square (12:35).

He is due to arrive at Craven Park, the home of Hull KR, at about 13:40.

It is Mr Sinfield’s fourth consecutive annual event for MND charities, having already raised almost £10m in previous fundraisers.

He began the challenge on Sunday in Liverpool, where he took part in an annual Santa Dash.

On Friday, he will run between Northampton and Leicester, before the finale on Saturday between Old Trafford and Saddleworth.

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