Dundee boss Gary Bowyer has thrown his full support behind Kevin Sinfield’s Ultra 7 in 7 motor neurone disease fundraiser.
The rugby league great has already raised over £500,000 for five MND charities and is set to complete seven ultra-marathons in seven days.
That will see him run around 40 miles every day for a week before completing his mammoth task at half-time in Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup Final at Old Trafford.
Sinfield has been inspired by friend and former team-mate Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with MND in 2019, as well as former Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir and ex-footballer Stephen Darby.
Bowyer’s connection is to former Bradford City defender Darby, who was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 29 in 2018.
The Dundee boss was Bradford manager a year later when a fundraising match was held between the Bantams and Darby’s first club Liverpool at Valley Parade.
Bowyer is now an ambassador for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, set up by Darby and his close friend Chris Rimmer.
Knighthood
And he has called for Sinfield, who already has an OBE, to be knighted for his efforts to raise money and awareness for MND.
“I’m very very honoured and privileged to be an ambassador of the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation,” Bowyer said.
“Kevin Sinfield is doing seven ultra-marathons this week, starting in Edinburgh for Doddie Weir.
“We need to start a petition to get Kevin Sinfield knighted. I am serious about this.
“What he has done is unbelievable. I think he’s raised over £5milllion for MND.
“I want to get a campaign going for ‘Sir Kevin’ and to raise awareness for MND.
“It’s a terrible, terrible disease.”
Sinfield’s target is £777,777 – donations can be made here:
Money raised will be donated to Motor Neurone Disease Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and MND Scotland.
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