Eden runner and fund-raiser Mark Osborne branded Kevin Sinfield “almost superhuman” as he joined the rugby league legend on the final day of an epic trek in aid of people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
During the past two years, 62-year-old Mark has been collecting cash for the MND Association by completing a series of running challenges.
Mark first tackled the 2023 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, named in honour of the former Leeds Rhinos scrum half who died in June after a brave battle with the disease.
Earlier this year, Mark then set himself the goal of finishing two marathons and two ultra marathons within four months in support of the MND Association.
He completed Pendle Way in a Day, the Barcelona Marathon, a 30-mile Calderdale Way Ultra and then rounded things off with another Leeds Marathon, raising around £2,500 in the process.
Late last month, Eden Runners member Mark then received an email from an MND community fundraiser. This invited him to join Kevin on Saturday in Manchester as he completed the last of seven ultra marathons in seven days.
Kevin — now a coach with the England rugby union team —began day seven in Salford and stopped off at Manchester’s Etihad Campus Athletics stadium where he was joined for a special “extra mile” event by a host of supporters, including Mark.
The Eden man completed four laps of the track with Kevin, who then headed to his home town of Saddleworth to finish his daunting trek, which was dubbed “Running Home for Christmas.”
Kevin had hoped to raise £777,777 — his friend and team-mate Burrow wore shirt number seven — but in fact, fittingly, added a seven-figure sum to the millions he has already collected during previous gruelling runs.
“It was just a great occasion to be part of. Very emotional,” said Mark. “There were people there who suffer from MND, and some of them were wheeled a mile in their wheelchairs by family members.”
Kevin had already ticked off 13 miles by the time he arrived at the track.
“He said a few words and thanked people before we trotted off and did four laps of the running track,” said Mark, who was full of admiration. “I can’t comprehend how he can do what he’s done. It’s just a phenomenal achievement — almost superhuman.
“I don’t think a lot of people probably knew a lot about MND before Kevin started banging the drum and doing his fundraising challenges. To do what he’s done for a mate, a team-mate, is just incredible. He’s raised the profile of MND massively.”
Before Kevin left the track to complete his challenge, he paused for a selfie with Mark — twice!
“We were doing it whilst we were running around the track. The first photo I took, for whatever reason, just showed the top of my head and that was it. I had to ask him to do another one!” said Mark.
“He’s just very happy to support the people who are supporting him, to thank them.”
