Princess Anne observed the second day of Sir Kevin Sinfield’s ultra marathon challenge at the University of York athletics track on Wednesday, sharing moments of lighthearted exchange with the former rugby league player. The event is part of Sinfield’s "7 in 7: The Grand Finale," a grueling initiative in which he aims to complete an ultra marathon every day for seven consecutive days to raise funds and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND).

During a conversation in the pavilion, Sinfield acknowledged the tough conditions of the challenge, expressing a preference for running in heavy rain to match the perceived hardship by spectators. The Princess Royal, 76, known for her equestrian achievements including representing Great Britain in the Olympics, responded with humor, saying she prefers to "stick to horses" rather than take up running. “Fun run is a contradiction in terms,” she remarked, adding that while she can run, she no longer does it for enjoyment.

Sinfield’s effort, inspired by his former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow, who passed away in 2024 after battling MND, has so far raised over £11 million for the MND community since its inception in 2020. His daily target is to cover at least 27.9 miles, divided into four roughly seven-kilometre segments completed within an hour each, before continuing again. An "extra mile" segment also takes place each day, during which Sinfield runs four laps with members of the MND community.

Princess Anne, serving as the Royal Patron of the MND Association, marked the start of the day’s run by banging a drum seven times and personally meeting charity staff, caregivers, family members, and participants supporting Sinfield’s challenge. Tanya Curry, chief executive of the MND Association, was also present and greeted by the princess.

The event was further marked by the appearance of former England rugby union player Lewis Moody, who recently disclosed his own MND diagnosis. Despite initially indicating he could not attend, Moody joined Sinfield for a lap of the track, describing Sinfield as a "remarkable human being" and expressing gratitude for being part of the event. He acknowledged the significance of the princess’s presence, calling it “a fantastic thing for this community.”

The challenge continues through the week, with Sinfield and his team pushing to draw attention to MND and support those affected by the disease through this demanding physical endeavour.