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LBU supports Kevin Sinfield OBE with epic Extra Mile Challenge
The rugby league legend and three-time graduate of the university took a sub-max treadmill test in the Carnegie School of Sport building’s performance laboratory on Wednesday 17 November, which provided insights on his optimal running pace and will support his fuelling strategy.
The former England captain, who joined the coaching staff at Leicester Tigers earlier this year, will attempt to run from Leicester’s home at Mattioli Woods Welford Road to Headingley Rugby Stadium in Leeds in 24 hours starting on Monday 22 November.
The route for the run has been devised by experts in the university’s Carnegie School of Sport who will also be providing logistical, nutritional and practical support throughout the gruelling challenge.
The run will be split into 7km segments, each must be completed within an hour before the next one starts on the hour. Originally, the journey was planned to cover a distance of 100 miles but the actual final distance covers 101 miles with Sinfield once again proving he will always go the ‘extra mile’ for his friend and former team mate, Rob Burrow.
Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019 and since then has publicly championed raising funds and awareness for everyone impacted by the disease. It has led to an award-winning documentary and best-selling autobiography but Burrow’s greatest achievement and latest goal is to realise the dream of a new MND Care Centre in Leeds that will bear his name.
Sinfield is aiming to raise £100,000 for his toughest challenge yet, which will be equally split between the MND Association and the appeal to build The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.
Peter Mackreth, Dean of the Carnegie School of Sport said: “We’re very proud to be able to support Kevin Sinfield. The cause he is raising money for and the friendship which he and his teammates have with Rob Burrow reflects a lot of the positivity within sport with people using physical activities to raise money and to do great things for the people in society.
“This challenge allows our academics to be using their expertise to support a real world challenge, this also adds authenticity to the delivery of our curriculum, with our students recognising the experts we have within our community.
“Our involvement connects us to our alumni in Kevin Sinfield, to the sporting community that we have within Leeds and represents a lot of the positives within sport more broadly in terms of contributing to society and raising money. Kevin epitomises that in terms of him supporting his friend but also many other people in the UK and around the world with MND.”
Kevin Sinfield OBE completed both his BSc and MA at Leeds Beckett University alongside his professional rugby career at Leeds Rhinos. His accolades are numerous and he is one of the most successful players in rugby league history. In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sports Science by the university.
You can back Kevin’s appeal now: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfields-the-extra-mile-challenge
You can also donate £3 by texting the word Kevin to 70143.
LBU supports Kevin Sinfield OBE with epic Extra Mile Challenge Kevin Sinfield OBE went through performance testing at Leeds Beckett University as part of his final preparations for his Extra Mile Challenge to raise money for those impacted by motor neurone disease (MND).
In this article
Peter Mackreth
Peter is currently completing his PhD at Leeds Beckett University through designing and evaluating a community based childhood obesity intervention, which has recently been highlighted in a report produced by the UK Governments Foresight Programme.
Professor Ben Jones
Ben is a Professor of Sports Science. He completed his BSc(hons), MSc and PhD at Leeds Beckett University, prior to becoming a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology, then receiving his Professorship in 2017, at the age of 31.
